]y I G G J&Jt
EIlBlLtolDillBQa
BEING
THE ONLY ENTIRE AND COMPLETE
\ WORK OF ETHIOPIAN SONGS
EXTANT.
NEW-YORK:
NAFIS & CORNISH, PUBLISHERS,
278 pea^l-s'tkIeet.
St. Louis, Mo.—VAN DEIN & macdonald. 1
NIGGER MELODIES.
DINAH CLARE.
Sung by the Ethiopian Serenaders.
When I was in Virginny land, I lub'd one Dina
Clare;
Indeed she was most beautiful, de fairest of de
fair;
And all who saw her liquid eye soon fell into
her snare,
And praised and called her beautiful, de lubly
Dina Clare.
By brooks and streams we wandered, we had no
doubts or fears;
I sang to her my sweetest song, she gave to me
her tears;
And when at night we looked alone in de bright
starlight air, •
The lustre of dem stars was dimm'd by de eyea
of Dina Clare.
Oh, sweet Dina Clare,
Oh, sweet Dina Clare,
Lubly, lubly Dina Clare.
POPULAR SONGS.
Sweet Dina Clare I lubb'd her, and she I know
lubb'd me,
I thought my bride de beautiful Miss Dina she
would be;
But oh! not so; ah, cruel fate ! it drives me to
despair,
Whene'er I think of dat sweet one, ill-fated Di¬
na Clare.
Der was one cruel white man, rich, he saw, den
lubb'd her, too,
And tried to gain her gentle heart from her
lubb'd Ginger Blue.
And when he found 'twas all in vain, he dread¬
ful den doth swear,
In spite of all her tears, he'd have de gentla
Dina Clare.
Oh, sweet Dina Clare,
Oh, swee$ Dina Clare,
Lubly, lubly Dina Clare.
'For long, I dying found her, amid her tears and
cries,
De sweetest voice I eber heard now stifled with
her sighs;
And as she gabe me parting kiss she blest me
wid a prayer;
Den flew de gentle spirit of de gentle Dina
Clare.
And den dey made grabe for her beneath a sha¬
dy tree,
When, sleeping in her loveliness, she quiet dere
might be ;
6
POPULAR SONGS.
And round her grave -wild flowerets den dey
spread wid nicest care,
Sweet emblems of de blighted hopes of my lost
Dina Clare.
Oh, sweet Dina Clare,
Oh, sweet Dina Clare,
Lubly, lubly Dina Clare.
THE PINE OLD COLOUR'D GENTLE
MAN.
Composed and Sung by Henry Russell.
In Tennessee, as I've heard say, dere once did
use to dwell
A find old color'd gentleman, and dis nigger
know'd him well;
Dey used to call him Sambo or somefing near
de same;
And de reason why dey call'd him so was be¬
cause it was his name.
So come along, my darling, because you know
me well ;
Oh! come along, my darling; yha, yha, yha, yha,
yha, yha.
He had a good old banjo, and well he kept it
strung;
And he us' to sing de good old song, ob 1 Go it
while you're young
He sung so long, and sung so loud, dat he scar'd
de pigs and goats,
For he often took a pint of yeast to raise his up¬
per notes.
7 So come along, &c.
POPULAR SONGS.
When dis nigger took a snooze, 'twas in a nig¬
ger crowd,
And he us'd to keep dem all awake, because he
slept so loud;
Den de niggers held an inquest, when dey heard
ob his deff,
And de verdict ob de jury was, he died for want
of breff.
So come along, &c.
DANDY BROADWAY SWELL.
Oh, what are dandy niggers 1 dare's not one dat
can compare
Wid dis dandy Broadway swell, when he goes
to take de air.
He breaks de hearts of de yaller gals, he's en¬
vied by de men,
Look at dis nigger, and you'll say he's de first
of dandies den.
For he's de kick' de go, de cheese,
As ebery one can tell;
De yaller gals he's sure to please,
Dis fine dandy Broadway swell.
He boast dat him hab a watch dat no thieves
will dare to rob,
Cause him watch at him broker's and dere's
nothing in de fob.
He wears a great big eye-glass dat he pokes
close in de face
Ob ebery young and yaller gal dat struts up and
down the place.
S For he'e &c.
POPULAR SONGS.
His glubs dey are lily white, his shirt's dicky
just like snow,
And smartly dis Broadway swell swings his
cane both to and fro ;
His moustachios and imperial make him look
grand and grabe,
And de yaller gals all lub him cause him neber
shabe.
For he's, &c.
His coat and calbes are padded to make up a
figure fine,
His black cravat, like his face, to the sable doth
incline;
But dere's such a sweet expression dat lightens
up him face,
Dat wid ebery pretty yallar gal 'tis a decided
case.
For he's, &c.
WTiere dis fine nigger come from is not by any
swell known;
De dandies hate him in dere hearts, cause he
does 'em up so brown,
He coaxes away de yallar gals by rolling obhim
eye,
And some ob dem hab )nly kick'd, and gib a
scream and die.
For he's, &c.
9
POPULAR SONGS.
DAR IS MUSIC IN DE BONES.
Now all you nigs hab sung of something,
Some hab sung of gwan a hunting.
Some say dar's music in de banjo,
I say dar's music in de bones, too,
Dar's music in de bones, (Symphony) dar's music
in de bones,
Dar's music in de bones, Gumbo, dar's music in
de bones: {Symphony)
If any you nigs should go ,to Guinea,
Or should go to old Virginny,
You'd hear dem niggers sing de tune,
About dar's music in de bones.
Dar's music in de bones, (Symphony) dar is mu¬
sic in de bones. (Symphony)
Dar is musid in de bones, Gumbo, dar is musio
in de bones.
Cold water Sam he got so thin,
His eyes make bean poles through his chin
And every night when he went home,
He hung his hat on the left cheek bone.
Dar's music in de bones, &c.
OBER DE MOUNTAIN.
Down in old Virginny break,
Nigger live, dey call him Jake—
Make de woods around to ring,
And dis was de song dat he did sing
10
POPULAR SONGS.
Re raw, my true lub,
Do come along my darling—
Fare you well, Miss Dinah, girl,
For I'm going ober de mountain,
Now I saddle de ole horse in de drag,
Nigger he was berry glad,
Rent was due on dat bery day,
Turn de nigger out cos he couldn't pay.
Re raw, &a
Said I—1 Dinah, will you come wid me,'
And lib in sweetest harmony 1
1 Oh, yes, dear Jim—and dat I will I
Den I dribe like de debil ober de hill.
Re raw, &o.
De ole horse fall down on him knees—
How it rain, and how it freeze—
Dat bery day him meet him death !
And dey say he died for de want of breath.
Re raw, &c.
Dig a large hole and shub him in,
^ ^en how de animal grin!
doctor come him pulse to feel'
Say him die wid de tooth-ache in him heeL
Re raw, &c.
As down de riber I did skim,
Dare I meet my broder Jim:
'Broder Jim, how do you do?
1 Pretty well, thank you. How are you V
Re raw, &a
11
POPULAR SONGS
Reach Carolina dark at night.
Some thing fill him wid delight,
Broder Jim he die at sea,
LeaT&a large fortin for Dinah and me.
Re raw, &o
CORN FIELD GREEN.
On a night in de fall ob de year,
A hungry coon would rove;
For a corn field dat was near;
Green corn de coon did lub—
De coon felt his appetite,
Ha! ha ! sez he, I mean
To eat my fill dis night,
All in dat corn field green.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
De night it was berry dark,
De sun hab set too soon ;
He couldn't hear de bull dog bark,
Good wedder sez de coon.
He husk decora upon de rail,
His appetite was keen,
On dis same night he wag'd his tail,
All in dat corn field green.
Enough I've eat de coon he cried.
Enough I've eat cried he;
He kick'd the bucket and died,
All by a holler tree.
De odder coons out ob spite,
Dey nebber would be seen
12
POPULAR SONGS.
To eat dey're fill at night,
All in dat corn field green.
O ITS DOWN IN OLD VIRGINITY.
0 its down infold Virginny de banjo does ring
S£U
When dis nigger from Guinea does twank on
de string sa;
Wid music and singing,dare hearts sole delight,
And dar mouths wid joy grinning, dey pass each
long night.
0 its down in old Virginny de banjo does ring
sa,
When this nigger from Guinea does twank
on de string sa.
When de sun he am a shining, dis nigger am
pining,
For him to go quickly down, and let the night
to come ;
And each darky's heart, from his bosom does
start,
When dey hears dis old nigga wid his banjo's
turn, turn.
0 its down in old Virginny, &e.
Oh my massa so kind and so good to dis nigga,
Says I shall marry Dine at the 'giningof spring;
And Dina she lubs me, and so tightly she hnga
me.
Makes 'dis nigga so happy dat wid joy I do
sing.
O its down in old Yirginny., &c.
13
POPULAR SONGS*
THE LONDON BOATMAN'S DANCE.
(VIRGINIAN MELODY.)
Spring is blooming over earth, dis de time for joy
and mirth;
Dolphin and porpoise wallow in de brine, lily
birds sing in de glad sunshine.
Dance, boatman, dance, — oh ! dance, boatman,
dance,
When the stars burn bright by the firefly's light,
till the earliest dawn in the morning.
Re, row. the boatman row, going down the river
on the Ohio;
Re, row, the boatman row, going down the river
on the Ohio.
Alleghany mountains terrible high,—get at de
top you touch de sky';
Merry 'neath dere shadow, sitting on a log, boat¬
man sing and drink him grog.
'Drink, boatman drink,—drink boatman drink ;
Drink all night with a heart so light,
But take care of your head in de morning.
Boatman sing, boatman drink,—day light dawn,
starlight wink.
Row, row, away we go, &c.
Boatmen, he's de lady's man,—none can make
lub as de boatman can ;
You neber saw a pretty gal in all your life, but
she was nick'd for a boatman's wife;
Court, boatman, court.—court, boatman, court;
We court all night by the glow-worm's light,
14
POPULAR SONGS.
And are off to de church in de morning.
Boatman court—boatman tink—boatman dance
boatman drink.
Row, row. away we go, &c.
In de log-hut Rosa stay,—tink of her boatman
far away;
Piccaninnies play about de floor,—p'raps ten or
twelve on 'em, p'raps many more.
Lub Rosa life—lub boatman's wife;
Dream, young bride, him by your side,
And weep when wake in de morning,
Boatman brave, boatman true; boatman got no
lub but you.
Row, row, away we go, &o.
DANDY JIM OP CAROLINE.
The Music composed and Sung by Henry Russell
I heard old massa say of late,
South Carolina was de state
Where a lubly nigger'll cut a shine,
Like Dandy Jim ob Caroline.
Yes, my old massa told me so,
'You'm de handsomest Nigger in de country,
oh!'
I look in de glass, it's true I fine,
None like Dandy Jim ob Caroline!
I dress myself in de long tail blue,
As well-bred Nigger gemmen do;
My hat what 'em call de Lilly shaller—
Creation could'nt find its fuller.
15
POPTTLAR. SONGS
I'm sure de hatter told me so,
And de deuce is in it if he did'nt know.
De giggling girls cry ' How divine
Is Dandy Jim ob Caroline !'
My pantaloon's a tartan check,
A yaller fogleum round my neck—
.11 my patent boots Peg see her face,
And was fairly rooted to de place.
Indeed, Miss Peggy told me so,
Dere wasn't such a heel in de country, oh!
Says she, 'I'm your's if you am mine,
Dear Dandy Jim ob Caroline!'
White beauty's but skin-deep alone,
De nigger's go right thro' to de bone;
She's as lubly black as you can find,
And her heel sticks out a foot behind;
For de shoemaker told me so,—
She's eigtheen inches from de heel tode toe;
She's form'd by nature to be thine,
Great Dandy Jim from Caroline.
I marry her, and soon shall see
Elegant lads d' image ob me;
De gals shall show, in form and face,
Mammy's beauty—daddy's grace,—
My expectation tell me so,
We'll hab four-and-twenty little nigs all in a
row,
Boys ana gals almost diyine,
Like Dandy Jim ob Caroline.
16
POPULAR SONGS
CAR'LINA.
AH ORIGINAL SONG, NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.
Down in old Car'Iina,
Oh, I lubs Car'Iina! •
For 'neath her sunny skies
My Molly dear was born:
And dar I fus beheld her
Dancing on de lawn,
As sprightly and as graceful
As a lubly little fawn,
Down in ole Car'Iina.
Downe in ole Car'Iina !
Oh, I lubs Car'Iina !
For dar's de same green wood
Whar my Molly dear and I
At de closing ob de day
Togodder used to hie,
And talk wi,d one another
Till de stars smile in de sky,
Down in ole Car'Iina.
Down in ole Car'Iina,
Oh, I lubs Car'Iina!
For dar's de ole log cabin
Whar she sung so sweet to me—
And dar's de stringless banjo
Dat 8he played so charmingly—
And her voice was soft and tuneful
As de bluebird's in de trte.
Down in old Car'Iina.
17
pnnn.Mi songs
Down in oie Car'lina,
Oh. I lub3 Car'lina !
For dar's de quiet spot
Whar I laid my Molly dear,
'Twas in de early spring-time,
De fairest of de year,
When de lubly birds and flowers
Had just began to appear.
Down in ole Car'lina.
Down in ole Car'lina,
Oh, I lubs Car'lina!
For eb'ry day I goes
Her grassy graye to see;
And I lubs ta sit an 'member
How kind she used to be—
And I weeps when I thinks
She can ne'er return to me.
Down in ole Car'lina.
Down in ole Car'lina,
Oh, I lubs Car'lina !
For dar ole massa libs;
God bless his old white head!
For he berry kind to Molly
When she sick upon de bed—
And he weep and say he sorry
When I told him she was dead.
Down in ole Car'lina.
Down in ole Car'lina,
Oh, I lubs Car'lina!
And dar I'll ebber lib—
And dar I hopes to die—
18*
POPULAR SONGS.
And dar beside my Molly dear
In rest I longs to lie—
For dis poor ole heart was broken
When dey bore her from my eye-
Down in ole Carolina.
Brooklyn, 1847. Rao
THE NEW ROADS OP ALABAMA.
COMPOSED BT ALEN CLARK.
Oh! I do lub a handsome gal,
Her name is Suseanna;
And she has trabbled all around
The roads of Alabama.
Chorus.
Will you come, will you come ?
Now come dear Suseanna,
And trabble all around with me,
On the roads of Alabama.
I courted her for seven years,
My lubly Suseanna,
I started off to that shore,
By the roads of Alabama.
Will you come? &c.
I arrived on that shore,
With my lub Suseanna,
And we are a going to spend our time
On the roads of Alabama.
Will you come 1 &c.
Oh ! I lived so merrily,
With my lub Suseanna;
19
POPULAR SONGS.
She died in happiness and peace,
On the roads of Alabama.
Will you come? &e
Oh! now 'tis sad to say farewell
To my lub Suseanna;
But I must rest my troubled mind,
In the roads of Alabama.
Will you come? &o
DE OLE HARE.
As sung and rcritten by old Jim Carter.
Ole hare what you doing dar.
Setting in de corner smoking pipe,
Full cut dried tobaco.
Ole hare what you doing dar,
Setting in de corner eating faty bread,
Wid cracklins in it.
I put my dog on de hare track,
Run little ways turn round back,
He fool de nigger dat time.
Dolly eat ob wood chuck eat it in a minite,
Eat it so divilish quick, I had no time to skin it,
I hadent time to take de hair off.
De ole hare run into de log,
Lay still says coon I think I hear de dog
He can't catch me I know.
1 give my dog a leff bone,
1 hit him on de back he run rite home,
1 could hunt no more that day
20
POPULAR SONGS.
WHO DARE ?
Cum all ye jolly niggas, to you de truf I tell ah,
Neber lib wid white folks, dey neber use you
well, ah
Cold frosty mornin, nigga berry good, ah,
Wid de axe on he shoulder, he go to cut de
wood ah
Dingee I otten dotten, ballio otten dotten,
Dingee I otten, WHO DARE ?
Come home to breakfas, get somethin to eat ah!
An dey set before him, a little stinkin meat, ah!
Den at noontide cum, he cum home to dine, ah
An dey take him in de corn field, an gib him
sweet thirty-nine! Dingee, &c.
Den de nite cum on, an dey cum home to sup¬
per, ah.
An dey knock down, an break down, an hop
ober Juber, ah!
Den a little cold pancake, an a little hog fat, ah!
An dey grumble like debil, if you eat too much
ob dat, ah! Dingee, &o.
PEACE GO WID DEM NIGGERS.
De banjo hung on de kitchen wall, de gals was
afraid de baiyo fall,
I took it down again to play, I kick up de devil
. on a holler-day.
Peace go wid-dem niggers, peace go wid dem
niggers,
Peace go wid dem niggers, for dey am dead and
gone.
21
POPULAR SONGS
Dey dance all day and all dat night, two nigger
wenches have a fight,
Sal got up and hit Suke on de chin, she says old
hoss do dat agin.
Peace go wid, &c.
De allegator in de break lay fast asleep, old
Suke's awake,
He tried to suck de old gal in, like Bossey does
his glass ob gin.
Peace go wid, &c.
And dis old nigger sung in rhyme, and play de
banjo all de time,
And kiss de wench upon the chin, lor bress you
honey how you grin.
Peace go wid, &a
LOOK OBER DARE.
What fierce looking niggers come ober to see us,
And take along with us a cup of green tea,
Den list to de notes ob de banjo 1 play,
Wid de sound ob de tambo at de broke ob de
day.
Solo.—O, nigger, nigger, nigger, look, look,
whare,
Full Chorus.—O, nigger, nigger, look, dare
To de managrie I went wid dem niggers,
And dar when de sport and fun did begin,
De giraffe did kick her upon de shin,
And den he did magnatise dat ole ting.
O, nigger, nigger, &a
22
POPULAR SONGS.
DAYLIGHT IS ON DE FIELDS.
Daylight is on de fields, Dinah do not stay,
Dis am no place for me, I must, I must away,
De owl is gone to roost de cricket soundly soar,
De niggers go to work, while de coons do roar.
Daylight is on de fields, dis is no place for me,
Come away Dine, Come away Dine, I dare no
longer stay,
Come away, away, away, away, I dare no longer
stay.
Evening is on de fields, Dinah, lobe, do cum,
List to de banjo's tunes, am sounding turn, turn,
turn,
Evening is on de fields, de niggar's work am
done,
And de dinner horn it sounds, to call dem home.
Evening is on de fields, dis is no place for me,
Come away Dine, come away Dine, I dare no
longer stay,
Come away, away, away, away, I dare no longer
stay.
CORNFIELD CHORUS.
PARODY FROM THE GRAND OPERA OF " AMILIE.')
'Twas down in old Virginia state, this nigger's
fate was sealed,
For dar he first was introduced to Serapheina
Teal,
Oh, Mr. Crow—
23
POPULAR SONGS.
Spoken.—"Well nigga, ■what am it!" " Whar
was you going de odder evening ?" " Why, why,
why, I must been goin down to—"
To de eornfield, to de cornfield, to de cornfield
away,
While dar in de moonshine de ole possum lay,
Wid your hicum, wid your hocum, wid your
' - dog cum away,
While dar in de moonshine, de ole possum lay,
I hear most solumcolly news one day while in de
field,
De mortal termination of dat Serapheina Teal.
Spoken.—" Whar was you gwan wid old Gum¬
bo de odder evening ?" " Why I was gwan to
de—»
To de cornfield, &c.
At length the ghost all white appeared, and
horribly it squealed,
To hear de mention of de name of Serapheina
Teal.
Spoken.—" Den oh, you little pagganinia, dare
whare was you going wid dat miscreant ob
yours V " Why, I was gwan down to de—"
To de cornfield, &c.
This heart jump up agin my teeth, and shivered
like an eel,
To hear de mention ob de name of Serapheina
Teal.
Spoken.—"Den oh, all you colored 'siery "
24
popular songs.
'Well, well," " W liar was you going to?''
11 Why, we was all luminating down to de—"
To de cornfield, &e.
DE ALABAMA CHORUS
Ob all de galls I eber seed, I love dat loben Ro-
sey Neal,
She dance and tread upon that toe, lord how dis
nigger squeal.
chorus.
I was gwan wid her, de music play, de tambo
sounding all de way,
Away to Alabama, ho, and merrily singing as
we go,
Laughing.—Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
Away to Alabama, ho, and merrily singing as
we go,
Laughing.—Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
Away to Alabama, ho, and merrily singing as we
go-
Down fell de white rose, from de lips as snow
does from de hill,
She lives, she lives, she lives, dere Pete, you lobly
Rosey Meal.
I was gwan wid her, &c.
Thank heaven, she cried, he's true as Roger's
patent steel,
She am your own. your lovely gal, your tender
Rosey Meal
1 was gwan wid her, &c.
25
POPULAR SONGS.
Assassinate dis life, I cried before dat gal I kneel,
If ever I forget to love my lovely Rosey Meal
I was gwan wid her, &a
And den she flew into dese arms, oh, lor, how
dis child feel,
When resting on de lubly breast of charming
Rosey Meal.
I was gwan wid her, &c
RING THE BELLS.
Written and sung by Dan Rice.
Some folks arrived in town one day,
And dey all had bells de white folks say,
From Switzerland dey say dey came,
And de Chalpainaogees was their name.
Ring the bells,—Music.
Ring the bells and go the figure,
Laugh and grin my jolly niggers.
When dey first ring dar bells in town,
De white folks dey all got alarm'd,
Dey all run and I run too,
To hear 'em ring in something new.
Ring the bells, & &
Those bell ringers we do excell,
They can't come to tea wid de ole cow bells,
Now we want your heart and hand,
For de bell ringers of de stingeon land.
Ring the bells, &&,
26
POPULAR SONGS.
WE AM DE NIGGERS PROM DE WILD
GOOSE NATION.
We am de niggers from de wild goose nation,
Come dis night to sing to you;
We're just arrived from de old plantation,
Down on the banks of de O-hi-o.
To de fields, to de fields we must go,
When de driber calls we must obey,
To chop de wood, de corn to hoe,
And work hard all the day.
FULL CHOKUS.
Den sing away, sing away,
Tamborine and de banjo play;
Happy niggers while we sing,
To-day we work no more.
Ebery morning bright and early.
How dese niggers hates to rise,
Because dey am allways attacted,
By de ting called the Blue-tailed fly,
To de field, to de fields we must go,
When de driver calls, we must obey,
To chop de wood, de corn to hoe,
And work hard all de day..
Den sing away, sing away, &c.
When de big white moon am shining,
De niggers dey am out fore soon;
And up the cimmon tree are climbing,
For to catch de possom and coon.
To de fields, to dc fields we must go,
When de driber calls, we must obey,
27
POPULAR SONGS.
To chop de wood, de corn to hoe,
And work hard all de day.
Den sing away, sing away, &c.
SUSSA TEILL.
My lub in old Vergina libed,
A handsome yellow gal;
Of all the beauties she possessed,
Forget 'em I neber shall.
Wid cole black eyes and shiney hair,
All round her neck did steal;
She was de pride of dis nigger's care,
My charming Sussa TeilL
Wid cole black eyes, and shiney hair,
Around her neck would steal;
Wich early learn't dis heart to lub,
My pretty Sussa Teill.
When ebery day to church I go,
Wid Sussa by my side;
And when I sing, I sing so sweet,
Miss Sussa opens her eyes.
Wid cole black eyes and shiney hair,
All round her neck did steal;
She was de pride of dis nigger's care,
My charming Sussa Teill.
Wid cole black eyes and shiney hair,
Around her neck would steal;
Wich early learn't dis heart to lub.
My pretty Sussa Teill.
28
POPULAR SONGS
I axed Sussa wedder she lubed me,
She hugged and kissed, said she lub me so:
But I soon found it was all a sham,
For she had another (beau) bo.
Wid cole black eyes and shiney hair,
Around her neck did steal;
She was de pride of dis nigger's care,
My charming Sussa Teill.
Wid cole black eyes, and shiney hair,
Around her neck would steal;
Wich early learn't dis heart to lub,
My pretty Sussa Teill.
SICH A GITTIN UP STAIRS.
On a Suskehanna raft I cum down de bay,
An I danc'd, an I frolick'd, an I fiddled all de
way.
Sich a gittin up stairs I neber did see,
Sich a gittin up stairs I neber did see.
Trike he toe an heel, cut de pigeon wing,
Scratch gravel, slap de foot, dat's just de ting
Sich a gittin up stairs, &a.
I went to de play an I seed Jim Crow,
Oh! niggaIsam den swell, for Jim was no go.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &c.
I look him in de face, until I make him grin,
An den 1 trow a backa quid an hit him on d«
chin.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &e.
29
POPtTLAB. SONGS.
Oh, I is dat boy dat knows how to preach sarmon,
'Bout temperance, and 'seven up,' an all dat kin
of varmin.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &0.
Niggas held a meetin 'bot clonization,
An dere I spoke a speech about amalgamation.
Sich a gittin up stairs,
To Washington I go, dere I cut a swell,
Cleaning gemmen's boots and ringin auction bell.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &c.
Ole massa bery stout, an him leg got de gout,
Susan, me and Ned, had to tote ole fool to bed.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &c.
I call on yaller Sail, dat trades in sausages,
An dere I meet big Joe, which made my dander
ris.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &c.
Says I, ' you see dat door ? just mosey nigga Joe/
For I'm a Suskehanna boy wot knows a ting or
two.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &c.
An den I show my science—prenez gardez voua.
Bung he eye, break he shin, split he nose intwoi
Sich a gittin up stairs, &a
Sail beller out—den she jump up between us,
But I guess he no forgot de day when Isam show
he genius.
Sich a gittin up stairs, &c.
Den big Joe went out, he gwan to take de law,
30
POPULAR SONGS.
1 THE YALLER BUSHA BELLE.
As I walk'd out one moonlight night
I met a fair maid—her eyes shone bright,
Her face was so black, you couldn't see it well,
And she was called de ' Yaller Busha Belle.'
Says I, 'Young lady, may I walk wid ye V
What do you tink was de answer she gib me V
She say to me, ha. ta,
Go away, black man, don't you come a'neigh me
Bnrn you we'de a chunk, if I don't blue die me!
Radink a day, Ra, di, ink a day—
Nigger see'd her eat a pumpkin all de day.
Dat she should be too dignified, I didn't care to
see,
Case I'm de ansom nigger from de elbow to de
knee,
I never see a yeller gal I could like so well,
So I splash my 'fections on you, my
Yaller Busha Belle.
So cum Miss Dinah, may I walk wid ye ?
Still de same answer, de lady she gib me.
Spoken.—She says ~to me in 'zackly de same
tone of voice as before, only different,
v away black mai &c.
We didn't walk '"uieli furder5 kase down de rain
fell,
/So in a mi mte I put up my cotton umberelle _
1 Miss Dinah, 10 w, [ azes you to lean upon dia
arm,
An' I pledge my solemn appetite \ don't mean
you qq harm,
n
POPULAR SONGS
So come, young lady, may I walk wid ye V
Dis time a different answer she gib me.
Spoken.—You see de rain was coming dcre u
tolerably slick—and slie says,—
'Come away, black man, I'll go away with yo i
now
Hold up your umbrella, or I get wet thro' now.'
We walked along togeder, I don't know what I
said,
But de subject of matrimony cum into my head,
All dat pass'd between I'm not a-goine to tell,
But de next day I got married to my
Yaller Busha Belle.
Went to a nigger parson, on purpose to be wed,
When he ask'd de lady's name, what do you tink
she said ?
Go away, black man, &e.
About twelve months after dat, I t'ought I go
wild,
When my yaller girl she gab to me a little mal i
child,
He was black as any crow, perhaps just a tr .fla
bigger,
I'clare I neber saw such a handsome little nigger;
But my Yaller Busha Belle, my young and love¬
ly bride,
She didn't live much longer, 'cause next day she
died.
Spoken.—She says to me in a werry lemoncho-
lv voice,—
32
POPULAR. SONGS.
Good-by black man, I'm going away, from you
now,
Mind de piccaninny if you lub me true now.
Ra, di, ink a day, Ra, di; ink a day,
I 'clar it nearly broke my heart to put her in de
clay.
THE NIGGER WENCH FIGHT.
De banjo hung in de kitchen hall,
De gals got fraid de banjo fall,
I took it down and begin to play,
And we kick up de devil on a holiday.
We got in such a weaving way,
We couldn't stop, couldn't stop,
We got in such a weaving way,
De devil couldn't stop us.
We dance dat day an all dat night,
Too niger wenches had a fight,
Sail drew back took'er on the chin,
Says ole horse don't do dat agin.
Oh I got in such a weaving way, &a.
In eighteen hundred 33,
I hung my banjo in a tree,
De banjo fell on de ground,
Acre of banjoes ready strung
We got in such a weaving way, &c.
She roll her sieves, an curl her hair,
I told de niggers to stand clear,
An let dese wenches have dar way,
De devil couldn't stop 'em on a holiday
Dey got in such a weaving way, &e.
33
POPULAR SONGS.
De white folks come to lay the dost,
De nigger dey make it worse,
Dey turn them into a field,
One did bite de oder squeal.
Dey got in such a weaving way, &Ol
Den we choke de wenches apart,
[ hich my mule before de cart,
I laid ole Sally in de straw,
De ole mule would not go no whare.
He got in such a weaving way, &a
I laid some hay down in de road,
To coax my mule to move his load,
Sal got out to give him a chance,
Says whar is the banjo, lets have a dance.
She got in such a weaving way, &o.
De niggers fight, de niggers play,
Always on a holiday,
When de whites dey do go to bed,
The devil is working in de nigger's head.
An when dey going fast, &<x
TOM WALKER.
As sung and written by old Jim Carter.
I come to town de odder day,
To hear what de people had to say,
Some was white, some was black,
Some was slick as my hat.
Walk Tom Walker, walk away,
Walk so high, walk so low,
Sally come along too.
34
POPULAR SONGS
De first was on de walk,
A nigga singing walk chalk,
Ginger Blue in de street,
He made nigger's gizard beat.
Walk Tom Walker, &e.
I went down to Taminy Hall,
Dey said dar was going to be a ball,
Niggers was admitted free,
Since eighteen hundred 43.
Walk Tom Walker, &e.
A Miller-right Nig he was dar
Smoking of a big segar,
He ram de segar in his nose,
De smoke come out de niggers toes.
Walk Tom Walker, &©.
Miller said fire and smoke,
Dat de truth dat Miller spoke,
Nigger he got scared to death,
Dey open'd de door to give him breath.
Walk Tom Walker, &c.
Of all de gals I ever see,
Dat Sal is de gal for me.
Jill upon de bottom, pint upon de top,
Oh, lord gals dats all I got.
Walk Tom Walker, &a
HOP LITE LOO.
As sung and written by old Jim Carter.
As I comes down de street,
A negro wench I chance to meet,
35
POPULAR SONGS.
I stop wid her I had some talk,
Her heels covered up de hole side walk.
Hop lite loo, oh walk my loa
Oh kiss my love, go way Sam,
I leve kiss monkey as a black nigger man
I ask her had she seen ole Jim,
De nigger she begin to grin,
Says 1 ole gal you better start,
She run her heels in de truckman's cart.
Oh, hop lite loo.
De ole horse hfe did rare an pitch,
He nock de nigger in de ditch,
She got up in a divil of a flutter,
An walk six rod wid her heels in de gutter
Oh, hop lite loo.
De nigger she come out de brook,
She throw'd herself for Sandy Hook,
Dar I found her pedling eels,
Wid a bran new pair of breechen.
Oh, hop lite loa
She took me in a grocery shop,
Dar we took some ginger pop,
She said dat I had broke her hart
When she run her heels in a truckman's cart
Oh, hop lite loo.
De niggers had a ball in oder end de town,
l was dar right sock upon de ground,
My shoulders keep vocken, my heels keep
nocken,
I dance to de gal wid de hole in her stocken
Oh hop lite loo.
3P
POPULAR SONGS.
We dance all night till next day noon,
De nigger couldn't keep de fiddle in tune,
De banjo buss de fiddle flew, .
Broke my jaw bone span in too.
Oh hop lite loo.
Now brandy is brandy any way you mixt it.
Nigger is nigger any w^y you fix ii,
When ever de white folks go to bed,
De devil is working in de nigger's head.
Oh hop lite loa
JUBA.
As sung and written by old Jim Carter.
Way down in ole Virginia, dar I hear de fiddle
ring,
All de time dis nigger Jim play in on de banjo
string,
I got up in de morniu, I go to de kitchen,
To get a chunk a fire for to go a fishing.
I got up in de mornin about de brake of day,
I went down to de riber my canoe gone away,
When I go to de riber de riber rather wide,
I look ober yonder my canoe de oder side.
Last Saturday night de nigger went hunten,
De dog run de wooler, de wooler run de tiger,
De tiger run de nigger, de nigger run de debiL
Spoken.—Dey all run together an dis nigger
run rite arter 'em.
My mammy was a wolf, my daddy was a tiger,
An I'm what you call de ole Virginia nigger,
37
POPULAR SONGS.
Half fire, half smoke, a little touch of thunder,
I'm what dey call de eighth wonder.
I went to de mill for to see de miller.
Says I ole miller an't you got a chaw tobacco,
De miller had three dogs one name Jowler,
De oder named Ranger, de oder ole Hard Timea
Ole aunt Kate at de garden gate,
Sift de meal, give me de husk,
Bake de bread an give me de crusa
She boil de meat, give me de skin,
Dats de way she sucked me in,
Can't you cum ? I guess I kin.
OLE NAPPER RISE.
Composed by James Carter, in Virginia.
Bob he cum to my house,
I thought he cum to see me,
When I cum to find him out,
He persuaded my wife to leave me.
Rise my Napper.
Napper cum to parson's house,
Late in de night,
Parson jumped on Napper's back,
An poor Napper had to fight.
Rise my Napper.
Twas early in de morning,
By de break of day,
Parson got a warrant,
An Napper run away.
Well done my Napper
38
POPULAR SONGS.
Napper was a strong Nig,
Altho' he is very tall,
But when dey bring de warrant,
Poor Napper fool dem all.
Rise my Napper.
Mistress in de chamber,
Master in de hall,
Maiden in de garden,
I love her better dan alL
God bless Miss Napper.
I went down to New Orleans,
Did not go to stay,
Laid my head in yaller gal's lap,
Yaller gal fainted away.
Hard hearted Napper.
Napper had a banjo,
So well he kept it strung,
He used to play dat good ole tune,
Of go it while you're young.
Rise Napper.
SWEET POSSUM FOR DEE.
Parody on a-Smeet Memorys of Theecomposed
and sung by Charles White.
When soft leabes ob corn are flowing,
To make 'em grow we try;
And de warm sun's are shining,
Wid de heat we almost die;
Like de sweet banjo ringing,
Far over de fields we see,
39
yOPTTLAR SONGS.
Dar came close by me stealing,
Swefet possums for dee.
13 s bright corn when faded,
Flings forth o'er de fields,
And de dry leabes am dying,
And eaten by de coons;
Den round de corn he'll hover,
In sport de coon you'll see,
Oh how I long to see dem growing,
Sweet possums for dee.
De sweetest ting I lubs.
Am de possum or de coon,
When cotch'd by dy light fingers,
He scarcely make a groan ;
Den my young heart trembles,
Dat he must die by me,
An I steep my hands in blood,
Ob sweet possums for dee.
DE DINNER HORN.
"Parody on " The Mellow Horncomposed and
sung by Carles White.
At early dawn de niggars wake,
Puts on his ole attire,
An tro' de fields his way he takes,
To labor for no hire ;
All natur smiles to see him grin
While hoeing ob de corn,
40
POPULAR SON&S.
Its only when lie hears de sound,
Ob dat old dinner horn. *
De dinner horn,
De dinner, dinner horn.
At noon -when no dark clouds obscure
De sun dat shines so hot,
De nigga den leans on his hoe,
And cuss his tiresome lot;
He tinks ob friends he luff behind,
When from dem he was torn,
But show he soon forget dem all,
When he hears de dinner horn.
De dinner horn, &c.
When ebening shades are, coming on,
De sun sinks down de west,
De niggas toil will soon be done,
And den he'll hab some rest;
'Tis den he hears dem witching notes,
Dat on de breeze is borne,
Prom de ole oberseers throat,
Thro' dat ole dinner horn.
De dihner horn, &c.
HISTORY OF OLD VARGINIA.
A favorite negro melody, as sung by old Jim Carter
I am an ole Varginia nigger, death upon de shuffel,
Me collar sticks above my hat, I wars a feet of
ruffel,
An every morning soon, dis nigger can be seen,
4 tiring up de debil, to raise a little steam.
41
POPULAR SONGS.
I married in ole Varginia, and I went to Tenes-
see;
I lub her to distraction, an she did lub ine,
We lived so agreeable, 'twas all de week,
Den Sunday went to church to hear de preachei
speak.
Den you orter hear dat nigger sing,
De preacher gib de tex 'bout de double actios
spring,
Coming from de church you orter see her strut,
Look pale in de face gist like a bag ob sut.
I had a dog, he neber told a story,
He bark up de tree, de coon dar shorely,
Den I cock de gun, my finger on de trigger,
Slam bang went de gun, down fall de nigger.
I tell you ob a scrape I had wid a gal,
De nine fuss letters ob her name was Sal,
I ax her for a kiss, and I hab you all to know,
She struck me sebin times fore she eber let me go
WAY SHE WENT.
Sung by the renoromd old Jim Carter.
It's ebery day I hab to sing,
'Bout dis and dat, an de odder ting,
But all dat I hab got to say,
Dinah lick me, she run away.
Chorus.—An away she went,
. An away she went.
Away she went, don't cry Joe,
Neber mind de wedder, so de wind don't blow.
42
POPULAR SONGS.
De landlord came to de house next day,
Says, what de debil is to play,
I told him of our little dispntes,
Says, pay your rent, an move your boots.
An away she went, &e.
I met a gal gwine down de street,
'Twas yaller gal I chance to meet,
I bought her pies, my money's spent,
She got all she want, an away she went.
An away she went, &c.
I wish you well, an wish you better,
When you get married send me a letter,
If you get married fore I do,
Soon after I'll be married too.
An away she went, &c.
De ole hare sittin in a fodder stack,
Making of a new night cap,
She rip, she tore, she cuss, she swore,
She swore she would'nt set dar no more.
An away she went, &.C.
HARD TIMES, AND WORSE COMING
As swig and written by old Jim Carter, with shouts
of laughter.
Pick goose, pick gander, run about, look yander,
I didn't go way to come back, don't stand a fool¬
ing,
But give me chaw of tobackey, den hurran for
Hard times.
43
POPULAR SONGS.
Once in my time I had two wives, one name Doll
De oder name Molly, an one name Caty, I don't
Know which I love best, 'cept its ole
Hard times.
Once in my time I had three dogs, one name
Joler, de odder name Damon, de odder name
Towser,
None 'em good for nothing, 'cept ole
Hard times.
Call up Joler, call up Damon, call up Towser,
Set dem out a hunting, but hold on to
Ole Hard times, he bark too loud and track
Hard times.
One tried a rakeoon, de oder tried a possum,
De oder tried a wood chuk, and de oder tried
Hard times up a little sapliu.
Hard times, worse coming.
Load up your gun again, beat up your drum,
Again shoot off your gun, again fall back,
And come again, down come Hard times,
Hard times.
Last Saturday night de niggers went hunting,
De dog run de wolfe, de wolfe run de tiger,
And de tiger run de devil, and de devil run d®
Nigger, de nigger run de Hard times.
44
POPULAR SONGS.
BOOT BLACK CHORUS.
Sung to delighted audiences by old Jim Carter.
Hark, darkies hark, hush, niggers hush,
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush an rub away,
Blackin ob de boots on de Canal street plan;
Brush away,
Scrub away,
AH brush an rub away,
Blacking ob de boots on de Canal street plan,
Will neber make a fortune for de colored gen¬
tleman.
Chorus.—Den so happy are we,
Darkies so free,
Blacking de boots up de dark alley
Work, niggers work, fore de sun dus rise,
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush an rub away,
De light am a shining in de white folk's eyes.
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush and scrub away,
Now if any colored lady should fancy our face,
We will wait upon her home wid de alamode da
grace.
Chorus.—Den so happy are we,
Darkies so free,
Blacking de boots up de dark alley,
45
POPULAR SOITGS.
SALLY IS DE GAL FOR ME.
Last year I was twenty,
Ole master set me free,
An I'se got money a plenty,
An I'se going to hab a spree.
When I get in a weaving way,
Spend my money free,
Oh, here's good liquor, come an drink,
Oh, Sally is de gal for me.
I'se gwine down to Sally's house,
If Sally aint at home,
I'll set myself in de big arm chair,
An play on de old jawbone.
When I get in the weaving way, &c.
If she don't come when I get done,
I'll jump into de fedder bed,
Go right in like a truper's horse i
An lay like I was dead.
When I get in a weaving way, &c
Oh, Sally is de gal for me,
I would'nt hab no udder,
If Sal dies to-morrow night,
I'll marry Sally's brudder.
When I get in a a weaving way, &c.
Ole master buy me a long-tail coat,
Wid boots np to my knees,
When I gets on my Sunday cloes,
I am sassy as you pleasa.
When I get in a weaving way, &c.
46
POPULAR SONGS.
Misses gib me a piece ob meat,
Ole master gib me bread,
Sally gib me one sweet kiss,
An it almost kill me dead.
When I get in a weaving way, &c.
LONG TIME AGO.
ORIGINAL SONG BY DAN RICK.
In a little log cabin on old Virginny,
Cousin John, hussa;
There I lived ever since I come from Guinea,
Long time ago.
Old massa bought me of a nigger driver,
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh;
Put me in corn field to hoe the potatoes,
Longtime ago.
I staid with old massa, good many summers,
Cousin John, hussa;
All the time we have good dinners,
Long time ago.
Oh every morn if we desire,
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh;
We use to bake the hoe cake before the fire,
Long time ago.
Old Dina was cook and none of the worstest,
Cousin John, hussa;
She use to bake the dodge without any crustes,
Long time ago.
De way dey bake de hoe cake in Virginia ne-
ber tire.
47
POPULAR SONGS.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ;
Pey put it on de foot an hold it to de fire,
Long time ago;
Den I thought I have old Dina for a wife,
Cousin John, hussa;
So at old massa for to save de strifey,
Long time ago;
Old Dina consented to have old Caesar, ■
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ;
Soon popped the question and did no more teaser,
Long time ago.
We always have to ax before we get married,
Cousin John, hussa;
So de ting was fixed I did no longer tarry.
Long time ago.
Now I loves her to extraction,
Oh oh'oh oh oh oh oh ;
And she loves me and hears de confexion,
Long time ago.
Massa soon found we was good property,
Cousin John, hussa;
He sold de little niggers and de money he did
pocket
Long time ago.
But when old Dina did'nt have no mine,
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh;
So he sell old Caesar and send him down de ri¬
ver
Long time ago.
48
POPCLAR BONOS.
But I didn't stay long in de wild goose nation,
Cousin John, hussa;
There dey make de niggers work de plantation,
Long time ago.
Oh ebery morn massa leok sower,
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh;
Give de niggers thirty-nine ebery half hoar,
Long time ago.
AWAY TO DE OLE BEE TREE,
Negro Chaunt sung by the 11 Orpheus Minstrels
in the opera on the Post-heel-on ob Long-jaw-bone.
Come shoulder your axes darkey boys,
Dis am de time for nigga's joys ;
Away to de woods and de holler tree
To catch de luscious honey bee.
Chorus.—With a bass hum in imitation of a bee.
Away, away to de ole bee tree,
Wid lights and axes merrily,
And wid de honey for our prize,
We'll charm each darkey honey's eyes.
Away to de ole bee tree,
Away to de ole bee tree.
Come boys, I'll light de ole pine knot,
And lead you safely to de spot,
Whar de breezes smell bellodiously,
All wid de hum ob de ole bee tree.
Away, away to de ole bee tree.
49
POPULAR SONGS.
Now chop piano soft an' light,
Or de bee's walk out an' spoil your sight;
De ole tree cracks,—ah! what's dat cry 1
De bees am bungen up Ctesar's eye.
Away, away, &c.
De ole tree bends, now fire de trunk,
Down falls de honev-comb ca-chunk;
De bees cut dirt wid dar long tail'd king,
While de nigga's all scratch dar heels an' singi
Away, away, &c.
Now gadder up de luscious comb,
An' like de blacksnake streak it home,
An' dar wid de wargin's merrily,
We'll share de fruits ob de' ole bee tree.
Away, away, &c.
DE YALLER SUN.
As sung mid 12-horsepower of applause.
De yaller sun am gone to roost,
Behind de sky so blue,
An' like a gander for his goose,
I'se sighin lub for you.
Den wake, lub,
I shake, lub,
Like sheep on a frosty morn'ia;
Walk out an' fly,
While in de sky.
Lub's taller lights am burn'in.
Den wake lub, &o.
50
popttlar songs
De yaller lily hangs her head,
Bekase no sun she spies,
But when you leaves yeur scented bed,
She'll tink de sun does rise.
Den wake lub, &C-
De Jimson flower spreads out proud,
An' tinks dat he can smell,
But when you spreads your odours loud,
You'll make him shut his shell,
Den wake lub,
I shake lub,
Like a sheep on a frosty mornin,
Walk out an' fly,
While in de sky,
Lub's taller lights am burnin.
DE HOMINY MAN.
Tune.—The White Cockade.
Oh, in Jarsey's land black Sam was born,
Dar all among de fields ob corn,
But soon to dis yar town he ran.
An' set he up for a homminy man.
"trying, Hey, yar comes de homminy man,
Hey, yar goes de homminy man,
And to match his lip dar's no one can,
When he sings " Yar comes de homminy
man."
Oh, ebery morning night an' day,
De homminy man is on his way,
51
POPULAR SONGS.
An' de white gals rush wid de pan,
When dey hear de voice ob the homminy man,
Sing, Hey, yar tAmes, &c.
Wid de white bag hangen by his side,
An' a lip thick as a tanned bull's hide,
He makes dis mouth run like a can,
When he sings "Yar goes de homminy man.*
Sing, Hey yar goes, &c.
Ob all de cries dat walk de street,
Dar's none so lodious you can meet,
An' while de corn grows may his clan,
Still sing " Yar goes de homminy man.."
Sing, Hey, yar comes, Su.
LUBLY DINE.
A favorite Negro Chaunt, by Ban Riet.
Oh, has she failed in her truth,
That beautiful maid I adore,
Shall I never again hear that voice,
Or see dat lubly form any more.
Oh Dine, Dine, Dine, I dearly lubs you Dine-
Oh Dine, oh Dine, oh Dine, I dearly lubs my
Dine.
My Cato he has just gone out,
And now you have nothing to fear,
So just open the door and just step in,
And Dine will meet you my dear.
Oh Dine, &c.
My Dine since faithful you proved,
I neber again will dispair,
52
popflar songs.
Since I fonnd how truly I'me lub'd,
I'll eber prove constant my dear.
Oh Dine, &«.
My Dine let's go promenade,
To some confectionary shop,
And drink a glass ob da cool lemonade
Or a glass ob strong beer, gin or pop.
DE OLD ROAST POSSUM.
Composed by C. White.
Oh ! I lub it, I lub it, dat old roast possum,
Wid de trimrhius ob de coon, and some gr««sis
where I cotch him,
Tis a berry luscious dish when de appetite am
good,
And de Ingin pudding wid it, den it am de best
ob food;
•'Tis den I iong to sit by de table wid my lub,
And watch de little niggas, while dey are
ob de grub,
Oh, 'tis den we are so happy, when we ail set a
watching,
As de last piece go from de bones ob de possum
And when we see de last ob de possum's ren.aiu&,
Old Dina moves de dishes wid de greatest oh
pains,
And de time de room is cleared de niggas begin
come,
When dey all prepare to dance and to hab a *>>
tie fun ?
53
popular songs.
Den old Caesar wid his banjo, goes and takeB hia
place,
And plays up dem old tunes, suited to de nigga'i
taste,
Den we dance away till midnight, till de owls be¬
gin to screech,
And de bullfrogs and de crickets, am woke up
from dar sleep.
OLD CLEM'S COON HUNT
Parody on " my own native land."
Composed and sung by C. White.
1 hab cross'd ober fences and run trough de fields,
A chasing de coon on his track,
but not one coon hab I cotched in a month,
So I bet'r sit down and grieve ob my luck,
Oh Clem, Clom, Clem, Clem, you are too old now
to hunt de old coon.
But a short time ago I was nimble and young,
And supple as nigga could be,
Aut now I'se grown old and my head has turned
grey.
And such sports are all ober wid me.
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, I'm too old, &c.
farewell to de corn fields, whar oft times w«
sweat,
A rakeing and hoeing de corn,
And dat good old fence whar I've crossed so oft,
At de sound ob de old dinner horn.
Ciem, Clem, Clem, Clem, you are too old, &c.
54
POPULAR SONGS.
POMPEY O. SMASH.
One Pompey O. Smash courted Miss Dinah
Coal,
She was handsome to view and strait as a pole,
And Pomp was so proud, dat de nigga's would
say
When dey see him a comin' " get out ob de way,"
De fuss time he see her, 'twas washin de clothes,
She was soap to de eyes, and suds up to de nose.
She looked inde tub when de clothes was all done
So high and so dry war dey hung in de sun,
De rain comin down, ebery rag was wet through,
When de wind blow a gust, den de line broke in
two,
De clothes dey come tumblin down wid a crash,
Blow high! and lay low! says bold Pompey O.
Smash.
Now Dinah set down on an ole holler log.
Say's Pompey, by gosh if I don't go de hole hog,
He sits him down by her, and buss'd her thick
lips,
She blushed and she smiled like a basket of
chips.
Say's Pompey, dear Dinah, tell me how you feel ?
Say's she, like um boots dats run down at de
heel;
An I dream toder night as I lay wide awake,
Dat Sam Jonsing gib me a piece of Hoe cake,
Dar's one oder fac dat I sartinly drempt,^
He swore dat he'd hab me, or burst in de 'tempt
55
POPULAR SONGS.
Say's Pompey, dear Dinah don't tink on sich
trash,
Ease I'll hab you myself, says bold Pompey 0
Smash.
Now Pompey de rogue laid his arms round her
waist,
And led her away to de parson in haste,
And gib him a dollar wid out any joke,
To marry him, same like he marry "white folks.
Dey stood up togedder by each olers side,
De parson soon make 'em both husband and bride
Says Pomp, I'll stick to you as long as I lib,
Den he hug her so tight dat he brake ebery rib,
Pomp put on his hat, Dina cotch hold ob do
arm,
And de priest for his dollar did feel some alarm,
Says he, be quick Pompey, and shell out decash.
You no kiss de bride, says bold Pompey 0
Smash.
Now Pompey and Dinah dey both did agree,
To vite all de niggas to come to a spree,
Wid his meal bag den Pomp for the corn crib
did break,
For he stole 'nough corn de hoe cake to bake,
He look all around him,, both cunning and sly,
An lifted de meal bag widout half "a try,
Tinks he to himself, dar no one in sight,
And he stole anudder bushel, don't you tink he
was right 1
Den when he got home his dear Dinah was gone,
She run ob wid Sam while he gone for de corn,
56
POPtTLAR SONGS.
He trowed down de meal bag and arter dem
dash,
Debbil take de hindmost, say Pompey O. Smash.
DE OLD BANJO.
OR DE NIGGA's VISIT TO DE SHOW.
By D. W. Lull.
I am a nigger from de south,
1 come from dar time, ob de drouth,
I trabble fast, an I trabble slow,
An I fotch along de ole banjo.
My old missus sent me out a singin,
'Twas de first ob my beginnin.
I went one night to play for a ball,
De niggs wuz dar, white folks an all;
Some dance so high, some dance so low,
Dey play'd de debble wid de old banjo.
My old missus, &c.
De niggs all sez, he can't fool me,
He plays dat ting by the rule of tree;
De white folks sez, ' go 'long wid de show
You can't stay here wid your old banjo.'
My old missus, &c.
De old hoss stood up to de rack,
I buckle de banjo on his back;
I fotch 'im a kick, git up! gee whoa!
An away I went wid de old banjo.
My old missus, &c.
We got to de show all cover'd wid dust,
Couldn't get in, 'till I paid dem first:
57
POPULAR SONGS.
Two shillin for myself, I'de hab all to know,
An anudder extra shillin for de ole banjo.
My old missus, &c
When I got in I took my seat,
De showman ax't me for to treat;
Sez L ' old hoss,' I can't do so,
But 1 can play on de old banjo.
My ol4 missus, &a
Two niggers danced upon a board,
De fiddler played up ' sugar in de gourd
Dey dance berry hard, but 'twas no go,
JTwas no whar side 0' de old banjo.
My old missus, &c
De white folks laff, de niggs did grin,
Some holler d 1 fotch 'um back agin!'
Some did hiss an some ob 'um crow,
Kaze dey wanted Lull wid de old banjo.
My old missus, &c.
Up steps a man wid a spangled jacket,
' Niggs an white folks stop dis racket f
De people all stood up in a row,
An gib tree cheers for de old banjo.
My old missus, &c.
AGOING ALONG DOWN.
With Triangle Versions, by D. W. Lull, the cele¬
brated and eccentric banjo flayer.
The turkey buzzard am a very wild bird,
Much larger than de crow
58
POPULAR SONGS.
And I am a nigger from ole Virginny,
Dat plays on de old banjo.
Symphony.—I'm going along down,
I'm going along down,
For I'm going down to Lynchburg
To toat my banjo down dar. [town.
When I get my eye on a pretty yaller gal,
It's all ober wid her den,
I light upon her 'fection,
As de fish hawk does de hen.
I'm going along down, &c.
My love she is a pretty gal,
As all the white folks say,
And when she dance the Cowehoca,
These niggers faint away.
I'm going along down, &a
As I was going down de street,
I met a yaller gal.
The nine first letters of her name,
Was pretty yaller Sal
I'm going along down, &c.
f put my arm around her waist,
Says she, young man you're a wizzard,,
For you are de nigger dat play'd de banjo,
You will break dis wench's gizzard.
I'm going along down, &©.
For when I look'd her in the face,
She did me much surprise,
For the wool on her headjlit curl so tight,
She could not shut her eyes.
I'm going along down, &c.
59
POPULAR SONG8.
JIM JAWBONE.
Tune.—" Yankee Doodle was a gentleman?
Jim Jawbone was a colored man.
Ob de true nigga blood sa,
In ole Varginny he did grow,
Among de 'bacca buds sa;
His fader cum from Alabama,
Hi3 muder cum from Guinea,
Dey suckled little Jawbone wid
De leaf ob ole Varginny.
Chorus.—Success to de tobacco leaf,
• An' nigga's Jawbone Grinny,
Sing may dey raise for our relief,
De plant ob ole Varginny.
Dey cradled in tobacco stalks,
Dis bloomen infant black, sa,
An' long afore lie larnt to talk,
He squealed de name ob '■•bacca
Soon as youijg Jim had larnt to creep,
Dey miss'd an' thought him kill'd, sa,
But dey found him fast asleep,
Upon a 'bacca hill sa.
Success to de tobacco leaf, &c.
As Jim growed up de more he show,
His wegetable breed sa,
His 'plexion from de sable crow,
Turned like de yaller weed sa;
His limbs groW'd so jist like de plant
When cuttin time came round sa.
Success to de tobacco leaf, &,c.
60
POPULAR SONGS.
So poor Jim Jawbone had to die,
All by dis sad slipstake sa,
He hung him up wid stalks to dry
Upon de ;baeca brake sa;
Dis pipe I cut out ob de bone,
Dat growed out ob his shin sa,
An' de more I smoke de 'bacco out,
De more keeps comen in sa,
Success to de tobacco leaf, &c.
COOL WHITE'S FAR-FAMED GALS,
ARE YOU COMIN OUT TO-NIGHT!
As I was gwaine down Chesnut Street,
De wedder was quite warm,
Dat common nigga I did meet,
Wid Dinah on his arm.
Chorus.—Dat nigga's in lub wid Dinah,
Dat nigga's in lub I know,
But I'll make him resign her
An dat before I go.
He took her to a fancy ball,
An thought to cut a dash,
Dey boff were dressed, and looked quite tall
But she made him spend his cash.
Dat nigga's in, &c.
Says he my sweetest cady,
Oh. if you will be mine,
Why den you'll be a. lady,_
And wid de big bugs shine.
Dat nigga's in. &c
61
popular sojjgb.
He swore dat he did lab her,
And he eber "would be true,
But since he's seen anoder,
An' dat he yet will rue.
Dat nigga's in, &c.
She saw him wid a mulatta,
'Twas only todder nite,
Lord how he tried to flatter her,
But he couldn't come it qpite.
Dat nigga's in, &c.
For she had heard ob him before,
An' was up to all his tricks,
So 'gainst, him now she's lock'd de door,
An' left him in a fix.
Dat nigga's in lub wid Dinah,
Dat nigga's in lub I know,
But I'll make him resign her,
An' dat before I go.
DE OAK I'SE SAWED SO LONG.
Tune.—"The brave old oakP
A grin for de oak, de ole black oak,
Whose trunk I'se sawed so long.
Here's a laugh all round, for his skin so brown,
An' his forty legs so strong;
He shakes all around,
When he's chopped down,
62
POPULAR. SONGS.
An' de coons cut dirt all 'boat,
He gibs fiali an' light,
Ob a long cold night,
When de ole Nor Easters shout.
Chorus.—Den grin for de oak,
De ole black oak,
Whose trunk we've sawed so long,
An' still flourish we
By de ole oak tree,
While our saws am sharp an' strong.
He saw'd de happy mirth, from de ole stone
hearth,
Whar a fine back log he lay,
When de kitchen around, yell'd wid de sound,
Ob de nigga's young an' gay;
An' many a night.
By his coals so bright,
Dey sparkled till de mornin' shined,
Now dey're ashes and smoke,
Like de old black oak,
But dey both leabe sprouts behind.
Den grin to de oak, &c.
GIN, OB OLE YIRGINNY,
A new southern melody.
Tune.—"Maggy LauderP
Oh down in de tobacco state,
Dar is a color'd virgin,
Dat makes dis niggar's bosom beat,
Jis like a new kotch'd sturgeon:
63
POPULAR BONtio.
Her grandad was a Prince ob part
Ob all de land ob Guinea,
An' she's de Princess ob my heart,
Sweet Jin ob ole Virginny.
Chorus.—Sing ra a tal a da da!—ra a tal a da da
Her eyes shine like a guinea,
Oh, she's de Princess ob my heart,
Sweet Jin ob ole Virginny.
Her wool am soft as silk ob corn,
Her breath is sweet as possum,
An' when she ope's her eyes at morn,
Dar like a bacca blossom;
Her lips am like de piney flower,
Her teeth all white and grinny;
Shine like hot corn at dinner hour
Sweet Jin ob ole Virginny.
Sing ra tal a da da, &o.
Ive seen all darkies Souf and North,
An' Creoles fair and yaller,
An' Injin squaws as red as earth,
An' white gals clar as taller;
But white, or black, or brown, or red,
Or colors twice as many,
Dar's none runs in dis nigger's head,
' Like Jin ob ole Virginny.
Sing ra tal a da da!—ra tal a da da!
I'd choose her 'fore all Guinea,
For she's de princess ob dis heart,
Sweet Jin ob ole Virginny.
64
POPULAR SONGS.
MRS. TUCKER.
On Nigger Hill, as I've hearn tell,
A darkey woman dar did dwell,
From New Orleans dey say she came,
And Mrs. Tuoker is her name.
Git out ob de way,
Git out ob de way,
Git out ob de way, Mrs. Tucker,
What you gwan to hab for supper
Vi rs. Tucker ■end my Aunt Sally,
tSoth lib in shinbone alley,
Names on de gate, and number on de door,
First house ober de grocery store.
Git out ob de way, &c.
Mrs. Tucker is big and fat
Her face is black as my old hat,
Her eyes stick out, her nose sticks in,
Her under lip hang ober her chin.
Git out ob de way, &a
MrB. Tucker is juss eighty-nine,
Her hair hangs down like oakum twine,
Her face so black, it shines in de dark,
Her eyes shine lide a charcoal spark.
Git out ob de way, &a
Mrs. Tucker went out one day
To ride wid Dan in a one-horse sleigh,
De slay was broke, de horse was blind,
He had no hair on his tail behind.
Git out ob de way, &c
65
popular 60ng3.
She came home drunk, to de bed she reel,
She puts her night-cap on her heel,
She blows out de light, and shut her eyes,
And snore away until de sun does rise.
Git out ob de way, &a
Mrs. Tucker's heel so long,
She ploughs de street as she goes along,
De city marshal say one day,
When she goes out she must say,
Git out ob de way, &c.
We started jis as de clock struck one,
De horse jumped an' begun to run,
De horse fell down, de sleigh upset,
I haven't seen Mrs. Tucker yet.
Git out ob de way,
Git out ob de way,
Git out ob de way, Mrs. Tucker,
What you gwan to hab for suppej.
A NIGGER'S REASONS.
Air.—'■'■Yankee DoodleP
Nigger man good reason hab,
For ebery ting him doing,
Wedder it be work all day
Or ebery night go wooing!
He dearly lub a pretty gal,
Wid kiss her mouth to stop a'
But nigger lub himself de best.
Cause him tmk it proper'
POPULAR SONGS.
Ching, ring, banjo goley, loo,
Ching ring, banjo nigger
Know well how take care himself
'Cause number one a figger.
Times are growing berry bad,
Through care, or Massa Cupid ;
Some kill demselves acause dere mad,
And some acause dere stupid,
Nigger ne'er take in him head,
And for de best perswashun
He neber kill himself at all,
Cause he no occasion.
Chin, ring, &c.
Niggs lub new rum galore,
But all in moderation;
For if him take a drop too much,
May lose him sityvashun.
But should a friend invite him home,
Afore him good tings putting ;
Den no objection, drink like mad,
Acause it cost him notting*
Ching, ring, &c.
ftim neber care for making loVe,
Dat trouble neber move him,
Nigger man wid hansome face,
Make ebery body lub him.
Him like a widder best wid cash,
Dat not a chance U pas3 a
POPULAR SONGS.
'Cause 'when he de money tush.
No care a dam for massa.
Ching, ring, &C.
Him no like at all to cry,
Sorrow makes all crusty:
He tink it best to laugh all day,
'Cause jt make him lusty!
Nigger lub good libing well,
Starvation make him frightful—
Him like rump steaks and oyster sauce,
Acause 'em so delightful.
Ching, ring, &c.
He'd like to be a gentleman,
If he could live unhired,
Nigger man no like to work,
'Cause it make him tired!
Him tink it bore him debts to pay,
Though folks may say is not right,
'Cause for three months in de bench,
Black man come out all wash white!
Ching, ring, &c.
JIM ALONG JOSEY.
I lighted on these York diggins,
War dancin's all de go,
I practice de double shuffle jiggins,
To de physic of Jim along Joe.
Heigh Jim along, git along Joeey,
Ho git along, Jim along Joe.
68
POPULAR SONGS.
Dat Dutch gal, ole Fan Esslur,
An dat straddlebug Jim Crow,
Dey neider am a circumstance
To dis ere child—Heigh Jim along Joe.
Heigh, &c.
Take your time, nigger, dey can't cum dat no
how dey fix 'em. Dat am a genewine leg, and
no mistake, sticken rite up in de middlo ob de fut.
Splendicular artis for de toe and heel speculation.
Up in Broadway, de hard cider chaps,
Tied log cabin to de hickory stump,
Den dey sent for dis here genus
Jist to learn 'em de skyintific jump.
Heigh. &c.
Dey larfed, and cried, roared an screamed,
Dar, jist let dat Chapman crow !"
For our guests is de man, and chap
De ginewine do git along Joe.
Heigh, &c.
Dat am a fac, but dey couldn't fool dis nigga,
ehaw O. K.
On a huntin expedition I went one night,
An gwan to de woods I seed a sight,
Dare was two or tree possums an six or eight coons
Sittin on a log singin dis tune.
Heigh, &c.
A bull-frog come from de bottom ob do woll,
And he hab strange stories for to tell,
69
POPULAR SONGS.
Hiii mouth was full of powder an head full of
chaff,
And de Lord bless Moses how de bull-frog laugh.
Heigh, &c.
At Newark camp meetin I heard a darkey preach,
An according too, I heard de she uigga screech,
Wat most did my attention draw,
War forty-leben wenches all in de straw.
Heigh, &c.
Over de hills an a great way off,
A jay bird died wid de hookin cough,
An away down in a big muddy pon,
Oh! dis jay bird died wid his breeches on.
Heigh, &c
I am a nigga dat's right up an down,
I don't meddle meddle myself
Wid de polotics ob de nation,
Nor wid Massa Price and Startwout's defalcation.
Heigh, &c.
I'm gwan to hab a dandy coat an dat very
soon,
Besides a pair of tight-knee'd trowserloon,
An I'll cut up such a swell wid dear Susanna,
Dat de white folks would tink I was Santa Anna*
Height &c.
Old Tip tries de Virginny breakdown,
An little Matty pirouette a la France,
But it take dis colored gemman
To teach em both to dance,
Heigh, &c.
70
POPULAR SONGS
Hoe cake an possum am berry good feed,
Jamestown am noting but ole stink weed,
De snappin turtle learnt de peacock to sing,
But dis I call de real good ting.
Heigh, &c.
I trotted to quiltiri frolic
By de railroad to Yorkville,
An when the cowtillions war all ober
De toe nails did a bushel fill.
Heigh," &c.
Dey hoed it down mighty strong,
Up an down in de middle—
An ole horse radish, cuffy Jim,
Sawed rite through his fiddle.
Heigh, &c.
If you hab de rumatism,
And you want to ile your jints,
Git practice at our 'sembly ball,
What we hab at de five pints.
Heigh, &c.
I'se from Louisiana, whar I spose you know,
That Jim along Josey is all de go,
De niggas all rise when de bell does ring,
An dis is de song dat dey do sing.
Heigh, See.
71
popular songs.
DE NIGHTS WHEN WE WENT COON
HUNTING.
Written and sung by Cool White, with unbounded
applause.
Air.—In the days when we went gipsying.
In de nights when we went coon hunting,
Down in massa's field,
We do our best de coon to catch,
Because we know he'll steal;
But when at night we cotch de coon,
We dance upon de green,
We am de happiest niggers den,
Dat eber yet was seen.
Chorus.—And dus we passed de pleasant time,
Nor thought ob care or wo,
An' we am de Serenaders,
From away down below.
De grass smell sweet, de coon look neat,
As in de grass he lay,
He crouch himself up head an' feet,
He's cunning as de day;
But when you hear de ole dogs bark,
At first cum faint an' low,
Den ebery nigger he will start,
For a coon is nigh he'll know.
An' dus we pass, &c
We fill our pipe full ebery nite,
An' take a todd to cheer
Us 'fore we start by de moonlight,
For de coon we lub so dear,
72
popiti,ar songs.
Den ob de coon we're sure to tink,
How happy we would be,
If we only only had him long wid us,
Beneath de ole gum tree.
An' dus we pass, &c.
UNCLE SAMMY.
Tune.—Sich a gittin up stairs.
Listen folks of every station,
Whilst I chaunt a song of another nation,
And 'cos there are such lots about,
I've tried my best to write one out.
Such a long-headed chap was my uncle Sam¬
my—
Such a queer looking man as you never did see.
My uncle Sammy walked once
Brom Boston to York upon his sconce,
Nor knew he was upon his head,
Till on his toe he chanced to tread.
Such a long, &c.
Sitting down one afternoon,
He fancied himself a silver spoon,
Nor did he disover that he was not,
Till he tried to get in the mustard pot.
Such a long, &c.
Getting up one windy night,
He fancied himself a paper kite,
Nor did he ever the thing bewail,
Till he tried to fly without wings or tail.
Such a long &c.
73
POPULAR SONGS.
One morning fancying himself a cake
Into the oven he got to bake,
Nor did he know of his sad plight,
Till all his clothes had caught alight,
Such a long, &c.
Once going to a country fair,
He took himself for a cann of beer,
Nor did he know he was such a lout,
Till he tried in vain to pour himself out.
Such a long, &c.
Serving once as under stoker,
He took himself for a kitchen poker,
Nor would he ever known the joke,
Till he tried with his feet the fire to poke.
Such a long, &c.
My uncle being taken ill,
He fancied himself a stomach pill,
Nor did he know till on the morrow,
He had tried in the night his head to swallow.
Such along, &c>
Getting out of bed quite cool,
He fancied himself a three-legg'd stool,
Nor did he know of his mishap,
Till he tried to sit upon his lap.
Such along, Slo.
Myvuncle, once, as I've heard say,
Fancied himself a load of hay ;
And as he travell'd towards the south,
He put himself twice in the horse's mouth.
Such along, &c.
74
POPULAR BONGS.
!So now my stave is at an end,
And now your cheers I hope you'll send,
And if this please you by this light,
I'll sing you one another night.
So farewell, my friends, farewell I say,
Farewell, my friendsj till another day.
JIM CROW'S RAMBLE.
A highly popular Nigger Song, written by Mr
Frederick Cooper.
Him went from Rome to Argos,
A short time ago,
Piccaninni laugh and say,
" Here's Jim Crow !"
Turn about, wheel about,
And jump jist so,
Ebery time him wheel about,
Dey cry " Jim Crow !"
Him went into de Park tb walk,
Where pretty Lady Wiiine,
Ask him for to marry her,
And give him half a guinea.
And den a man was passing by,
So berry proud and large, he
Look in my face, and say " Jim CroW|"
Belong unto de clargy !
Some call me a good fighing man,
But dat is no disgrace ;
All say dat him by fighing got
So blackee in de face!
75
POPULAR SONGS.
Coming through do street at night;
Him ran agin a baker;
Him show him card, and asked to fight,
And call me undertaker.
Passing by de church yard late,
Like Guy wid box and matches,
Dey seize my coat, and cry aloud,
" Hera is him body snatches!"
Anoder man advance a step,
Him tought him berry cibil,
Look in him face, and say, " Ah, ah 1
Dis massa is de debit."
Went at half price to de play,
Where dey mistake my fellow,
Dey say him smoder his poor wife,
And call me black Otello.
But now him be emancipate,
Him feel how high him station,
Him get into de parliament
And represent de nation.
Him go just now where many go,
Where plenty of good lush is.
For if dey look into him face,
Dey cannot see him blushes.
Now all will own dis truth not found,
In comedy or farce is,
A face of copper's better far,
At any time, than brass is.
76
popular songs.
DE RALE LUCY LONG.
AN ETHIOPIAN DUET.
As sung with great applause by the celebrated
John Smith.
FIRST VOICE.
Oh, white folks, you'se heard ob lubly Lucy
Long,
She was born in Philadelphia, and de subject ob
my song.
SECOND VOICE.
Oh, she is a fair darkey, ob de rale fust stock,
And wid her head and shoulders she could 6plit
a block.
FIRST VOICE.
Sing, take your time—
SECOND VOICE.
Miss Luey;
FIKST VOICE.
Rock de cradle—
SECOND VOICE.
Lucy Long. [Repeat and dance.
FIRST VOICE.
Oh. dar was a lub-sick darkey about dat nigga's
size,
Dat fell in lub, and broke Ms nose, wid my sweet
Lucy's eyes;
SECOND VOICE.
Don't make dem sinivations, or I'll smash yom
pumpkin head,
And dislocate the organ "wha-r you stow away
\our i read !
77
POPULAR SONGS.
FIRST VOICE.
Sing take your time—
SECOND VOICE.
Mins Lucy Long.
FIRST voice.
Rock de cradle—
SECOND VOICE.
Lucy Long! [Repeat and dana.
FIRST VOICE
Oh, she said you am as flat as your tater colour¬
ed snout,
And dat your words fell on her like water from
a spout.
SECOND VOICE.
Oh, she said, " Sweet Jim Along," your are dis¬
tinguish man,
And you'se set dis heart a frying like a shad
widin a pan.
FIRST VOICE.
Sing, take your time—
SECOND VOICE.
Miss Lucy;
FIRST VOICE.
Rock de cradle—
SECOND VOICE.
Lucy Long. [Repeat and dana.
FIRST VOICE.
Oh, I kotch you toder morning, hanging by an
ingin rope,
Because Miss Lucy cut you like a cake o' brown
soap
78
F0PUXAR. BONGS.
SECOND VOICE.
Fll soa^> you to de eyes, for dem fe-billous say-
inSs;
And I'll gib you de magnetic shock dat folks
call Clar-away-ance.
FIRST VOICE.
Sing, take your time—
SECOND VOICE.
Miss Lucy;
FIRST VOICE.
Rock de cradle—
SECOND VOICE,
Lucy Long. [Repeat, dance and fight*
THE PIPER'S SON,
OH BAKED BEAN FLINT, AND TATEE GUN.
Oh, Sam Blow was a piper's son,
Tah, 00 de doodle dadah!
An born a piper, sore's as a gun,
Taddle doodle dadah,
With cornstalk pipe betwixt his fingers,
Tah oodle doodle dadah,
Dis de song he make it sing sar,
Toodle doodle day,
Baked bean flint, an tater gun
Cornstalk pipe an lips ob fun,
Bake bean flint, an tater gun,
Ah, ah, Sam, de piper's son.
Sam vent to serenade de crows.
Tah, oo de doodle dadah.
79
POPULAR SONG3.
As he see one light upon his nose,
Taddle doodle day,
Oh, dar he sat an crawke l de bass.
Tah oodle doodle dadah,
An roast upon de nigga's face,
Taddle doodle day.
Baked bean flint, an tater gun,
Cornstalk pipe an lip ob fun,
Bake bean flint an tater gun,
Ah, ah, Sam. de piper's son.
Sam played to charm de swarmin bees,
Tah oo de doodle dadah,
Dey sung him thorally from de trees,
Taddle doodle day,
But wasps cum down and sting his head,
Tah oodle doodle dadah,
It swell up like a cat-tail bed.
Toodle doodle day.
Bake bean flint, &ft
Sam went to church to raise de psalm,
Tah oo de doodle dadah,
He sings ole preacher lubs a dram,
Taddle doodle day,
And when dey all begun to sing,
Tah oodle doodle dadah,
His big lip cut de pigeon wing,
Taddle doodle day,
Bake bean flint, &ft
He piped to charm de coons one night,
Tah oo doodle dadah,
80
pop0lar songs.
And scared away de sweet moonlight,
Taddle doodle day,
He played de trees in a decline,
Tah oodle doodle dadah,
'Till all fell down and smash him fine,
Taddle doodle day.
Bake bean flint, &e.
BULL-GINE.
Tune.—Lucy Long.
Oh! white folks gib attenshin,
While I pipes out de fame,
Ob a pretty little bull-gine,
De Zack Taylor am her name.
Oh, break her down, my hearties,
And go de pumpin strong,
We'll stinguish fiah shortly,
To de tune ob Lucy Long.
Oh, her lungs am made ob copper.
And all her limbs am brass,
And to de fiah she hops, sa
Like a hopper through de grass
Oh, break, &o.
Dis bull-gine am a snortah,
Gis like a racin' steed,
An de way she throws her wattah,
Am a caution to de breed.
Oh, break, &«.
She's no rum suckin' sinner,
She sucks wattah from de wells,
81
popular songs.
An you tink de debil's in her,
When she hears de wringin bells.
Oh, break, iic.
De flames she's ebber arter,
Like a ooon upon fox fiah,
And as long as smoke's a rafter
She make de heat suspire.
Oh, break, &c.
Dis sancy little wixen,
In duty cannot slow be.
An when she starts her fixen,
She gives fiah de hydrophoby.
Den break down, &C.
Whar e'er de fiah's hottest,
You'll find her on de spot,
Den toast de Zack Taylor war mint
In stoops of Chowder Hot.
Oh, break, &0.
O, GET ALONG HOME, MY YALLER
GALS.
An Ethiopian Lyric.
One day, just at de set ob sun,
When de work was did and done,
I took my banjo and I played,
Betwixt de sunshine an de shade.
Oh, git along, my yaller gals,
De ebening sun is declining—
Oh, git home, my yaller gals,
For de dew on de grass am shining.
82
POPULAR SONGS.
Oh, tired hab grown de weary hours!
Deyr'e goin to bed among de flowers;
My own true lub I long to see,
And wid her drink some ginger tea.
Oh, git along home my yaller gals
De ebening snn is declining;
Oh, git along home my yaller gals,
For de dew on de grass am shining.
I WONDER WHAR HE WENT TO?
Full band accompaniments.
I come from ole Virginia one berry fine day,
De riber war freeze, and I skate all de way,
Wid my banjo in my hand a playing dis hero
tune,
What de niggers used to dance by de ligh obde
moon.
And I wonder where he went to,
I'd really like to know.
I wonder where he's going to,
He darsent go so slow.
I went for to mow down in de field,
A black snake bit me on de heel,
To cut my dirt I thought it best,
And fell cash wash m a hornet's nest.
Den I got down on a stump to hab some rest,
And charmed de woodchncks from dar nest,
De woodchuck come, and he sot along side me
And up come de skunk wid de whole family
83
POPULAR SONGS
De woodchuck grinned at de banjo song.
Axed me to play old Ha get along,
To please dem varmints I den begun,
And played up Jenny get your hoe cake dona
De skunk an de woodchuck gin for to fight,
De fume war strong enough to put out a light.
Den I danced and played till my chin gin to
rust,
You couldn't tell which of us smelled wust.
A stiff shirt collar wid three rows of stichen,
Tight knee'd boots and square toed breechen
De rain come wet an de sun come dry me,
Go way brack man don't come nigh me.
As I looked on yonder hill,
Dare I seed my uncle Bill,
Says I uncle Bill, how does you do,
Says he I am well, and how is you.
Ole Miller says de millenium's come,
And we'll all be burnt to kingdom come,
But he may preach till he suspire,
He'll neber set de riber on fire.
OH, MR. COON.
'Tis a berry lubly night, and de moon shine!
bright,
De clouds in de norf are gwoin out ob sight,
De whipperwill sings, and de cricketts all dance,
De frogs dey want to come it but dey can't get 4
chance,
84
POPITLAR SONGS.
Oh, Mr. Coon, you come too soon,
De gals wont be ready fore to-morrow arter*
noon.
Oh, Mr. Coon, you come too soon,
De gals won't be ready 'fore to-morrow arter-
noon.
Jes fetch along de taters and we'll fry 'em in do
pan,
Oh, help yourself to possum fat, my charming
Mary Ann,
A nice bowl ob coon soup is jis de berry ting
To clear away de cobwebs and let de nigger
sing.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &c.
Miss Matilda wash de dishes, Juliana bring de
broom
Eberlina set de chairs back all around de room,
Mr. Coon am a gentleman, I speck him here to
* night,
He's coming round de corner gals, jes try and
be perhte.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &c.
De white bird an de black bird settin in de
grass,
Preaching 'malgamation to de bobolinks dat
pass,
To carry out de doctrine dey seem a little loth,
When along cum de pigeon hawk and leby on
'em both.
Oh. Mr. Coon, &a
85
POPULAR SONGS.
Now take your place musickers, let's hear dem
dulcum tones,
We'll dance unto de music ob de banjo and de
bones,
Balance to your partner's all, and keep mindin
de tune,
You're too fast, altogether now, my worthy Mr.
Coon.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &c.
So now come again to-morrow, all in de arter-
noon,
For really sir, you hab come, a little while too
soon,
Allow me de honor to say to you good night,
For de gals am gettin tired, an its most day¬
light.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &o.
DE GENTEEL FINE OLE NIGGA
In Tennessee as, Fve heard say, dar once did
use to dwell,
A fine old colored gemman, an dis nigga Doe's
'im well 1
Dey used to call him uncle Jess, or someting
near de same,
De reason why dey call 'im so, was kaze datwas
his name.
For Jesse was a gemman—one ob d®
oldest kind.
86
POPULAR SONGS.
His temper dat was berry mild, -when he was
left alone,
But when you got his dander riz, him spunk to
de backbone;
" He whale de sugar off y'e by de double rule
ob tree,"
An whip his weight in wild cats when he got on
a spree.
For Jesse was, &c.
When dis niggar took a snooze, 'twas always in
a crowd,
De udder niggar could'nt sleep bekaze he snoar
so loud;
He roll himself up in a knot—his knees dey
touch't his chin,
De bed bugs had to clear de track, when he
stretched down agin.
For Jesse was, &c.
He was as true a nigger as ever yet was born,
Exsep he got so frackshus when he took too big
a horn;
He put de children all to sleep, den roll 'im in i
blanket,
If any ob 'um gin to cry, he turn it up an spank
it.
For Jesse was, &c.
He neber went to free school or any udder co«
lege,
De white folks dey all wondered whar de olo
nig go£ his knowledge,
87
He chawed up all de bible, and den spit out de
soriptur,
An when he gin to argur strong, he was a ring-
tail-riptur.
For Jesse was, &c.
He had a good old banjo—so well he kept it
strung,
He used to play dat good ole chune ob 'go it
while your young,'
He played so long, an play so loud, he scared de
pigg's an goats,
Bekaze he took a pint of yeast to raise de high¬
est notes.
For Jesse was, &c.
Old Farder Time kept rolling bye, an age grew
on a pace,
De wool all drapt from off his head, an wrink¬
led was his face,
He was de oldest niggar dat libed on dat plan¬
tation,
He did'nt fear de debble den, nor all ob his re¬
lation.
For Jesse was, &c.
Twas on a frosty mornin, jist as de sun had
riz,
O, " first it blew, an den it snew and den it gin
to friz,"
He laid 'im down upon a -bench, as straight as
any post,
De coons did roar, de possams howl'd when ha
guv up de ghost.
For Jesse was, &o
po
POPULAR SONGS.
De niggars hold an inquest when dey heard of
his deff,
De verdick ob de jury was—' he died for want
of breff!'
Dey laid 'im in an old pine chest, so fast dey
den did lock it,
Dey foun dise verses Fbe jist sung in his old
trowsers pocket.
Good bye to uncle Jess—dat good old
colored gentleman.
EBERLINAH.
Way down in green holler, whar de lily first
blows,
VVhar de winds from de mountain ne'er ruffle
de rose,
Libs fond Eberlinah, a sweet little chub,
De pride ob de walley, and de gal dat I lub.
[Yes she's de gal what 'nopolises dis niggers
'fections; and I'd ruther she'd does it as not, for
fear dey mdy be frow'd away on some more un-
wordy object.]
O, dear Eberlinah!
O, sweet Eberlinah!
I'm almost a dying for you,
Chorus.—O Eberlinah, ebber dear,
De rose dat blooms trowout de year.
May you bloom when the flowers have fallen to
de ground,
And brighten in beauty as the seasons roll round.
• 89
POPULAR SONGS
She is straight as a post, like an eel she is sleek,
And she nebber was known to put paint on her
cheek,
In de most graceful curls hangs her raben black
hair,
And she nebber require any 'fumery dar
[I doesn't know whedder dis gal's fadder is
rich or not. He ought to be howsever—for he
owns ten sons and twelb darters, and is general¬
ly considered to be one ob de greatest nwolr
growers in de country.]
O dear Eberlinah!
O sweet Eberlinah!
You're de wench ob all wenches for me.
O Eberlinah, &c.
Eberlinah and I one fine evening in June
Took a walk all alone by de lighi^ob de moon.
De planets all shone for de heabens were clear,
And I felt round de gizzard most mightily queer.
[Dat's a fac—I hasn't de genus to 'scribe de
sensations dat I 'sperienced on dat occasioa
Dar was a sort ob hot chill crept ober my whols
system, and I couldn't help saying :]
O dear Eberlinah!
O sweet Eberlinah!
You'll yet be dedef ob dis child.
O Eberlinah, &c.
Tree years hab gone by and I's not got a dollar.
And Eberlinah still libs in de green grassy holler
Aldough I am fated to marry her neber,
90
POPULAR SONGS
n wouldn't be s'prised if it lasted for "iblber
and a few days ober.]
O dear Eberlinah!
0 dear Eberlinah.!
My lub for you nebber shall die.
O Eberlinah, ebber dear.
De rose dat blooms trowout de year,
May you bloom when de flowers hab fallen to de
ground,
And brighten in beauty as de seasons roll round.
GOING OUT A CRABBtN*
Tune.—" Caesar stole a Turkey
Oh. gwan 'long de sea sida,
Arter shells a grabbin'.
Dar I met some color'd gils
Goin' out a crabbin'.
Sing, oh, gals, color'd mermaid creatures,
Grab away, crab away,
An' take care de muskeeters.
Dar some as black as tar, sar,
An' some a little yaller;
An' some ob 'em had eyes, sar.
As white as possum taller.
; ing, oh, gals, &a
1 walk right in among 'em
Like porpoise 'mong sea bass sar,
An' all dar tarry faces shine,
Like a stove-do lookin' glass, sar.
Sing, oh, gals, &o
91
POPULAR SONGS.
Some blush down to de bosom,
An' some clar to de ankle
An' toders grin so loudly dat
De sea begJ-J. to wrinkle.
Sing, oh, gals, &&
Says T, my charming.black fish,
I wish you lucky crabbin',
Says dey, we wish the same to you,
An' all ds race ob Adam.
Sing, oh, gals, &c.
Dey walk into de water,
Lord, how all scream an' yell, sar,
Some run here, some run dar,
Some in de water fell sar.
Sing, oh, gals, &c.
Some holler'd shark, some holler'd whale,
An' ole sea sarpent too sar,
Some fell limber as a rail,
Some fainted yaller, blue, sar.
Sing, oh, gals, &c
I jump about, I help 'em out,
Lord, how dis nigger laff, sar,
'Twas a gallynipper bit some mea
From Dinah's ankle calf, ear.
Sing, oh, gals, &C.
92
POPULAR SONGS
NEW BANJO SONG.
As sung bp Mr. Whitlock.
Oh white folks I will sing to you,
Dis nigger's favorite song,
I'll play it on de banjo,
To de tune ob Lucy Long;
Before I do get through with it,
I'll hab you understand,
And when I sung dat evening,
Tried to drive me from de stage.
So take your time, &0.
I took a walk one evening,
A little after dark,
And soon dis nigger found himself,
In St. James' Park;
So having seen all what I could,
And heard what I could hear.
Dis nigger den made up his mind
For Yankee land to steer.
So take your time, &c.
So having satisfied myself.
As you may understand,
I got on board a ship and came
Back to my native land:
So having 'rived here safe once more,
I never wish to leave it,
And having told you all I saw,
I'm sure yon will believe it.
So take your time, &c.
A3
POPULAR SONGS
YAW ! YAW!! YAW!!!
OR,
DE NIGGER OB COMMUNIPAW.
Did you eber hear de nigger ob Communipaw,
Wid his high Dutch laugh, and his yawl yaw!
yaw!
If you neber did den you hab lost a treat,
For de Communipaw nigger neber can be beat
Communipaw'a de place for de cabbages to grow
Whar dey all speak de Dutch, both de high and
de low.
Whar de niggers laugh so loud dat you can hear
From dat dar great city to almost here.
Did you eber, &C.
Dar is one little ting I'd hab you to know,
Dat I can jump and twist, and turn Rice Crow,
Except one ting I can't do for my life,
I can't turn into a rich young wife.
Did you eber, &o.
If I could go to England wid dis natural wool,
I'd soon '• come de Yankee' ober ole John Bull,
And when I get de chink-a-chink in my hand,
I'd soon come back to de Jarsay land.
Did you eber, &c.
I went to Long Island on de Union Course,
Dar I make de folks laugh till dey am hoarse,
On de little plank I gib de heel and toe,
I'm more den a match for Alabama Joe.
Did you eber, &c.
94
POPULAR. SONGS.
1 vent to the Museum to see Tom Thumb,
And dey told me dar no nigger must cum,
I said Mr. Barnum, I will ask if you please,
Did you eber know my moder, ole Joyce Heath.
Did you eber, &c.
Den Mr. Barnum, bowing low, wid a grin,
Said Mr. Darkee wont you please to walk in,
Den I said, (and I made an ugly mug,)
No, I tank you, dis nigger's no humbug.
Did you eber, &0.
f went in de Park an dar I did see,
De water spouting up as high as de tree,
I taut 'twould grow as high as a mountain,
I ax'd what dey call'd it, and dey told me de
fountain.
Did you eber, &c.
I went on de Batt'y saw de loafers asleep,
And dey scratched demselves just like someting
did creep,
I said Mr. Loafers you must 'cuse me now,
I don't like your company any how.
Did you eber, &c.
I went to Fulton Market just to see
What de people dar would tink ob me,
But de fools all said, you're not de man,
To compare wid de nigger ob Long Island.
Did you eber, &c.
But now t mean to go, and dat bery soon
Down to de market dey call Washington,
95
POPULAR SONGS.
For dey all say an dat be berry true, t
Dis here nigger is de real Jarsay blue.
Did you eber, &&
I must say someting to de softer sect,
To let dem know how much I respect
De bery shoes dat dey wear upon de foot,
If it be slipper or de tick-sol'd boot.
Did you eber, &a
If yon want to see de gals in Broadway,
You must go dar on de sun-shiny day,
Stand at de Astor and you soon will find,
Dar am many purty faces widout any mind
Did yon eber, &C.
De southern gals dey can neber oompare
Wid de New-York gals so lubly and fair,
De New-York gals hab de purty foot and face,
An dar bustles always in de right place.
Did you eber, &a
When next I come from Communipaw,
Fll make you all laugh wid de hah ! hah ! hah I
And ebery one shall cry. hurrah! hurrah!
For dat funny nigger ob Communipaw.
Did you eber, &0.
You must excuse me more for I must go,
To learn anoder new song on de banjo,
And when I can sing it nice and clear,
If you will come agin, dat song you shall hear.
Did you eber, &0.
96
POPULAR, SONGS.
COME DAY, GO DAY,
OR
MASSA IS A STINGY MAN.
Sung with everlasting shouts of applause by the re¬
nowned old Dan Emmit.
Oh massa is a stingy man,
And all his neighbors knows it,
He keeps good whiskey in his house,
Ail neber says, here goes it.
Sing come day, go day,
God send Sunday;
We'll drink whiskey all de week,
And buttermilk on Sunday.
A stray dog come to town,
Pon a bag of peaches, ,
De horse run off, an he fell down,
And mashed 'em all to pieces.
Pala du, fala du da du da la.
Fula du fala du ^la du la du la.
Come day, &c.
Hoe cotton, dig corn,
Den we feed de niggies,
An oh, lord Moses,
What a lusci jus time for niggas.
Come day, go day, &a,
Black J en's got a holler tooth,
An says it's always aching,
But when she puts de hoe cake in,
Den it stops a plaguing.
Come day, go clay, &c.
97
popular songs.
Oh, missus says we eat too much,
An wear out too much trowses,
She'll make us feed on atmosphere,
And dress in nature's blowses,
Come day, go day, &c.
She sent consumption Joe one night,
Tobacco leaf to kiver,
It made him sneeze out de moonlight,
An cough away his liver.
Come day, go day, &a
Oh massa loves to hug de gals,
And missus does'nt knows it,
But as I like de angels too,
I believe I won't exclose it.
Come day, go day, &e
Oh, missus says we should'nt eat,
Kase we don't work a Sunday,
But natur keeps digestion's mill,
Agoin as well as Monday.
Come day, go day, &c.
Massa sich a stmgy man,
I no more ketch him possum,
I roast and eat him in de wood,
And den I swear I loss him.
Come day; go day, &&
Old Jake went out to shoot,
And when de gun it got off,
It kick his right ear out o' joint,
Den fall and smash his toe off.
Gome day, go day,
sa
POPULAR SONGS.
OLD MR. BROWN.
Sung by T. G. Booth1 s " Kentucky Minstrels?
Ole Jim riber as I floated down
I run my baccur boat upon de ground;
De pine log cum rushing in
An stove both ends of de ole boat in.
p . j It will nebber do to gib it up so,
ePea • | n will nebber do to gib it up so.
De ole log raked me aft and fore,
It left my cook-house upon de shore ;
I thought it would nebber do to gib it np so,
I sculled myself ashore wid de ole banjo.
I lites on de sand, an feels mighty glad,
I looks at de banjo and feels mighty mad;
My foot slipt up an I fell down;
It will nebber do to gib it up so Mr. Brown.
I gosh, but it made de ole Nig laff,
Wid my boat I built a raff.
I had a pine tree for a sail,
An steered her down wid my coat taiL
I gosh, but dis ole nigger shiber!
I met a Cat-fish in de riber—
I steered right flum for de critter's snout,
An turned de ole Cat-fish inside out.
I leff de ole boat in de sand—
I took my banjo in my hand;
Dat nite just as de sun did set.
I arrived in town wid my clothes all wet
9Q
POPULAR SONGS.
Niger in de wood pile barking at a dog;
Toad in de Mill-pond sitting on a log;
Possum up a gum tree looking at a crow
Watchin Mr. Brown play de ole baiyo.
POMPEY'S HEEL.
Sung by T. G. Booth's " Kentucky Minstrels?
In North Carolina I was born,
We busk de wool and chop de corn:
A roastin' ear to de house I bring,
De drivers cotch me an dey sing,
Chorus.—Ring de hoop and sound de horn,
Cotch a nigga stealin corn,
Way down in the low groun fiel,
Three or four miles from Pompey'a Heel
Dey took me out on tater hill,
Dey make me dance agin my will!
Dey make me dance round tater hole,
While niggas punch me wid a pole.
But down de bank I spied a ship,
I slide down on my under lip;
I hop aboard, I cross de brink—
It often makes my gizzard wink
In North Carolina niggas grow
If white man only plant his toe,
Water de ground wid 'baccur smoke,
An up a darkie's head will poke.
Dar was a chicken had a fit,
An folks thought he would die of it,
100
POPULAR. SONGS.
His feathers flew out, his tail stuck in,
An he jumped up an crowded agin.
A Susquehannah Pole-Cat fight wid a shad,
Bekuse he said his breath was bad!
An when dey cum to take dar station,
De-shad faint away wid de fumigation.
THE RACOON HUNT.
As I walk out by de light ob de moon,
So merrily singing dis same ole tune,
I cum across a big racoon,
A sittin on a rail, sittin on a rail, (repeat)
An sleepin bery sound.
I at de racoon take a peep,
An den so softly to him creep,
I foun de racoon fast asleep,
An pull him off de rail, {repeat)
An fling him on de ground.
De racoon«gan to scratch an bite,
[ hit him once wid all my might,
I bung him eye an spoil him sight,
Oh, I am de child for fight, [repeat)
An beat de banjo too.
I tell de racoon gin to pray,
While on de ground de racoon lay,
But up he jump an run away,
An soon he out ob sight.
[Spoken.] D<? racoon gib me de slip dat time
101
POPULAR SONGS
but I play de berry devil wid him de next time
I cotch Mm
Sittin on a rail, (repeat)
My ole massa dead and gone,
A dose ob poison help him on,
De debil say he funeral song,
Oh, bress him let him go, (repeat.
An joy go wid him too.
Ole massa always lub de gin,
De way he drink it was a sin,
And dat how he cum to tumble in,
A hole about six feet deep.
[Spoken.] You see ole massa lubs gin to ex¬
traction, and one mornin just fore de brake ob
day, he wake an find himself dead an sometime
when I gwain* through de wood I see de ole
mans ghc^t
Sittin on a rail, (repeat.)
Wid his bottle in his hand
De Boston firemen tink dey are great,
But Philmadelfy's make 'em sweet,
But on de New-York boys I'd bet,
And gib 'em both some odds, (repeat.)
And try 'em when dey please.
MAMSELL GE MARY.
Upon de Ohio bluff, dar's war I used to lib,
A short account ob my life I'm now gwan to
gib,
10?
POPULAR SONGS.
IH tell you ob de trubles dat I undergo,
How my ole massa did use to whip me so,
Mamsell Ge Mary, lebuncum sa,
Mamsell Ge Mary, lebuncum sa.
Come all you Wnrginny gals, come listen to me
noise,
Neber do you wed wid Carolina boys,
And if dat you do, your portion dat will be,
Hoe cake and sassafras, and jangalango tea.
Mamsell Ge Mary, &a
Buckskins and mockasins to a high degree,
Den you go a courtin de purty gals to see,
De first word ob courtship wen you sit down
Look to de Johnny Cake, its bakin most too
brown.
Mamsell Ge Mary, &c.
Some got de mockasins, some aint got none,
But dem dat's got de polish boot think dem
selves a chum,
He jump on his horse an fotch him such a lick,
Dat he trabelled ober de ground like a crooked
maple stick.
Mamsell Ge Mary, &c.
Dey take you an place you on Jackmalacna hill,
Den dey make you work contrary to your will.
After dat you work, wen you work so spry,
Dey feed you on de best ob hog foot pie.
Mamsell Ge Mary, &c.
Dey may talk about de Carolina boys, for 1
don't care what dey say,
103
POPULAR SONGS.
Wid de Ingin rubber mockasins dey better keep
away,
De ole Wurginny boys, dey could'nt come at
all,
Cause dey dance to de tune, called the Hole in
the WalL
Mamsell Ge Mary, &a
NEGRO PARODY.
WRITTEN BY E. HARPER, THE AMERICAN COME¬
DIAN.
Lubliest Rosa ! Sambo now cum,
From dy dark window hear my turn, turn;
The watchman are gone,
And de white folks asleep.
So forth from dy window,
Lubly Rosa now creep,
Since de night ob de ball,
Dy charms are to me,
Sweet as de rose, from de lubliest tree.
Den listen, dear Rosa,
Ah listen to me,
De way dat I lub you,
Is a caution to de.
I quit de boot blacking,
I sot up a shop,
Comb de hair ob de white folks,
I sells ginger pop.
All dat I want lubly Rosa ob de,
Is to make you my wife,
104
POPULAR SONGS.
Den my heart is gwain free,
So forth from dy window.
Let me hear de blest strain,
Dat. you hab me.
Den I am happy again,
Den lubly Rosa, I go back to my shop,
For de smoke it is coming,
From de chimney, top.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Chorus and full band accompaniments.
I wish I war a going home,
Down in old Virginny,
And see de folks as fat as pork,
And nigger fat as any.
I only come to ax you all,
What's going on, what's going on.
I only cum to axe you all,
What's going on here ? &c.
I like to see de coloured gents,
Call one anudder niggers,
I like to see de ladies dance,
Dey cut such elligin figures.
I went into thy Museum,
'Twar ten o'clock and later
I seed a monkey wearing specks,
Now show me de alligator.
I like to see de table watched
By some civil waiters,
105
POPULAR SONGS.
I like to see-tlem fetcli along
De biggest kind ob taters.
White folks tab good brain,
Niger hab sense like punkin,
I kotch de debil todder night,
Eating apple dumpling.
I love to see de Buffalo boys
Engage in midnight revel,
I like to see dem all let loose,
And go it like de debiL
I like to see de growing grass,
Before de farmer mows it,
I like to see a racking hoss,
Case when he goes, he goes it.
White folks say de debil's dead,
An buried in a tan vat,
De niggers say he raised again.
And turned into a ram cat.
THE CHARLESTON GALS.
I'm a nigger from de souf,
I eome from dare in time ob de drouf,
Times so hard in dat dare place,
De nigger dare not show his face
Hi, ho. de Charleston gals.
Dey am so high, dey am so low,
Dey git no money for to come to d* show,
I went one night to play for a ball,
De nigger war done, white folks and all,
106
POPULAR SONGS.
Playing seven up, "wid ole black Joe,
To raise some money to go to de show.
Ole Joe swore I stock'd de cards,
He drawed me out to square de yards,
Says I, ole Joe, you can't fool me,
I plays seven up by de double rule ob three.
Joe sat down, did'nt know what to do,
He cracked his heels, den smacked his shoe,
Jumped on de carpet, cut de long jay bow,
Den I gib him a quarter for to go to de show
f got to de door all covered wid dust,
Couldn't git in till I paid 'em fust,
A quarter ob a dollar I'll hab you to know,
To hear nigger Bragg wid his ole banjo
When I got in I took my seat,
A Charleston gal axed me to treat,
She found it no go, an gin a frown,
Dat's de way wid de gals in Charleston town.
De nigga danced upon de board,
De fiddle played up sugar in de gourd,
When dey got done dey fall on dar backs,
An knooked all ob de putty out ob de cracks.
De white folks laugh, de niggers grin,
Some hollered fetch dem back agin,
Some did laugh and some did crow,
Cuze dey wanted Bragg wid his ole banjo.
Up spoke a man wid a spangle jacket,
Nigger an white folks stop dat racket,
107
popular songs.
De people all stood up in a row,
Gtve three cheers for Bragg and his ole banjo.
De white folks arter me all day long,
To get de verses ob my song,
I gib dem away long time ago.
To southern Bragg wid his ole banjo.
SING, DARKIES, SING.
A popular Chaunt, as sung by all the colored Min¬
strels and Serenaders.
Sing, sing, darkies sing,
Don't you hear the banjo, ring, ring, ring
Sing, sing, darkies sing,
Sing for the white folks, sing!
Since music am de meat ob love,
Made by ole 'Polio from above,
De sweetest wictuals ob de kine,
Am in de darldes'strains divine.
Sing, sing, &c.
Wid 'lodious voice,
And eber suple hand,
Come raise de noise,
And make de wool straight stand.
Sing, sing, &i.
Dar's Dandy Jim of Caroline,
An' oder airs dat's quite as fine,
Dar's Dan el Tucker, Lucy Neale,
Dat makes de frame all over feel.
Sing, sing. &c.
10S
POPULAR 80NGS.
Come stake de bones,
An' scrape de fiddleine,
Twang the banjo,
An' shake the tamborine.
Sing, sing, &c.
CUFFEE'S DO-IT.
A DUET.
He. Oh, Miss Fanny, let me in,
For de way I lub you is a sin ;
Oh, lubly Fanny, let me in,
To toast my feet and warm my shin.
Oh, lubly, let me in ?
She. Oh, no I cannot let you in.
Both. To toast j ^our \ feet and warm \ ^our [
I my ) ( my )
shin.
She. Sam Slufheel when last we parted,
You to me did prove false hearted.
Whitewash Sal you went to see,
And she aint one bit better dan me.
Oh, no I cannot let, &c.
ffe. Oh, Miss Fanny, how I prizes,
Lubly teeth and lubly eyeses,
Your handsome Fanny Elssler feet—
Growling music, also sweet.
Oh, lubly Fanny, &c.
SJu. My lub for you is so berry great,
Dat it is a sin to make me wait.
100
POPULAR SONGS.
Sam Sluf heel I aint got no fine made,
And taint no use to slamanade.
Oh, lubly, &c.
He Oh, when I set up oyster cellar,
You shall wait upon de feller
Sell hot corn and ginger pop,
You be de lady ob de shop.
Oh, lubly, &c
She. Oh, Sam, if dat's de trufe you tell me,
I shall wait upon de feller,
Sell hot corn and ginger pop,
I'll be de lady ob de shop.
Oh, Sam Sluf heel you may come in.
He. Oh, Miss Fanny, I'se a coming in,
For. de way I lub you is a sin.
Spoken.—She. Now, Mr. Sam Slufheel, as yon
is in, I wants to expostulate wid you, I wants to
know what nigger wench dat was, you was goto
ober to Hobucken wid.
He. Why dat was Miss Araminta Peach
blossom, to be sure—why ?
She. Oh, nothing, only I taught if she opened
her mouth once, dey would hab to stop de pad¬
dle, or she would hab swallowed up all de mar
chinery, dat's all!
He. Yes, an I wants to know what nigger dat
was you was pernambulating up Broadway wid
de oder night 1
She. Why dat was Mister Jerommibus, ob
course.
'10
POPULAR BONGS.
He. Why I taught you said it was Mr. Ju-
berbus.
She. Nigger you must be cracked—Mr. Je-
rombos I said.
He. WelL Mr. Jerombus and Mr. Juberboa^
is much de same, 'specially Mr. Juberbus ; now
look here, Miss Fanny, spose you show us some
ob dem Highland Fling touches you larnt ob
Fanny Elssler de oder night.
She. Well I spose 1 must if it is only to oblige
yon, you is so insinuatory. [Dances the Cacucha.
DAY AND MARTIN.
From Rice's Opera of " Oh HusJiP
Oh, de best man libin is Day & M&rtin,
Jonny an along ala.
For dey was de fust ob de boot black startin.
Jonny an along ala.
Did you eber see a gin sling made out of brandy ?
Jonny an along ala.
Did you eber see a pretty gal lick lasses candy.
Jonny an along ala.
Watchman. Half past twelve o'clock and star¬
light morning,
Jonny an along ala.
Half past twelve o,clock and starlight morning
Jonny an along ala.
Dere's de d d old watchman we've been
foolin
Jonny an along ala.
Ill
popular songs.
Let him stop outside and take a little coolin.
Jonny an along ak
Oh cut your stick you niggas for de daylight'j
dawnin.
Jonny an along ala.
Oh cut your stick you niggas for de daylight's
dawnin.
Jonny an along ala.
PHILADELPHIA DAN TUCKER.
If dare is a fire breaks out in town,
De Firemen dey all run around
To put it out, on dem it depends
Dey or t to cum togedder and be good friendi
Chorus—Oh, git out de way,
Oh, git out de way,
Ole Dan Tucker,
You're too late to come to supper.
De Butcher's dat stand in Market Street.
Dey all sell dar meat so berry cheap,
Some ob it taste sweet, some taste sweeter,
White folk® git it cheap, nigga git it cheaper.
Chorus.—Oh git out de way, &c.
De Spring Garden butchers are mighty tall
boys
'Spescially Capy Grear an Bobby Sours,
Dey are fine fellows, an also berry civil,
If you run 'gin dem better run 'gin de devil
Oh, git out de way, &0.
112
POPULAR SONGS.
BLACK AND WHITE NIGGERS.
Oh, LoW you do, all round about ?
Does all your moders know you're out ?
No matter wedder friend or broder,
Black and white niggers,
Dey're nature's niggers,
Brought upon de stage of life, sirs.
Some niggers will get in a rage,
And say dat' All de world?s a stage,
And men'and women are de players,
For dey dance and sing ' Sich a getting up stairs!
Black and white, &c.
Some nigger chap in love is seen,
Him ' Pop de question to him, queen/
For kings and queens dey pull loves trigger,
Dey fall in love, and ' why shouldn't de nigger ?
Black and white, &c.
Poor nigger live in humble life,
Wid piccanninies round him wife,
'Till him jealous made by some Iago fellow,
So him kill him wife just like 1 Othello
Black and white, &c.
Poor nigger wid rebuffs and scorn,
Den finds him ' occupation gone
Him cry ' Revenge1 is sweet heart's ease sir,
Like ' Richard de Third} and £ Julicum Seize her]
Black and white, &c.
De ' Hunchback' for de wife now grieves, .
De 1 Heir at lam' plays wid 1 Honest thieves
113
POPULAR SONGS.
Great favorites on de stage want statues,
Of Edmund Kean, John Reeve, and Matthewa
Black and white, &c.
De ' Giant lions, snakes and bears]
De ' Arabs' and de 1 Bayaderes,'
De ' Monties dogs, and goats and Ions]
All 1 Jump Jim, Crow' wid de 1 Lady of Lions
Black and white, &e.
Pray do not censure poor nigger-s pranks,
But do receive him massa's thanks,
And me wish success and approbation,
To dis young American population.
Black and white, &o.
LOVE AMONG DE NIGGERS.
He. Sweet Missee Marigold, him be so berj
bold,
Please to excuse him dis liberty ?
Him sure to want hubby, so neber looi
snubby,
Dere nice lily man at oo feet oo see:
Him so young, and slim, and tall,
Him got good figur, face, and all.
Beth. [Dancing) Tink a tinkity—neber look
glum, as um dance away,
Tink a tinkity—shut up de shop, and
make holiday.
She. Oh, Massa Cupid, me really not stupid,
Oo bery nice man me can't deny:
114
POPULAR SONGS
Dere no use refusing, me better be choosing.
On co bery long me ab set an eye,
If oo lub all oo life,
Den I be oo lily wife.
Both. Tink, &c.
He. Me be so natty, and oo be so pretty,
What could um wish for to hab beside,
Put off all sorrow day after to-morrow,
Make a good supper on inguns fried,
Dribe away ole Massa Care,
Such a merry happy pair.
Both. Tink, &c.
She. Me bery glad—bery, to see oo so merry,
Me tink it de best, for to do de same,
Of cash we hab plenty, of sheep we hab
twenty,
And oo've got de gun for to shoot de game,
In oo house so snug and small,
We will give one lily ball.
Both. Tink, &c.
He. 'Mong oder niggers we cut de figurs,
What wid de look, and de dress so gay,
After de labor, we call in de neighbor,
And ole Massa Cesar de fiddle play,
Den we dance um new quadrille,
Wid de belles our room to fill.
Both. Tink, &c
She. Me like matrimony, acause it so funny,
To ole Massa Parson we go to day,
And when we're united, so bery delighted.
For eber and eber will sing away,
115
POPULAR SONGS.
Such a beau, and such a belle,
Natty man, and pratty girl.
Both. Tink, &c.
Btth. Den hasten and marry, um better not tarr;
De parson de happy knot sail tie;
And when all is over, hab supper in clover,
A nice lily chick, and an ingun fry,
Then no work for a many a day,
Sing and feast, and dance away.
Both. Tink, &c.
AM I NOT FOND OF SAFT CORN.
PARODY ON <CAM I NOT FONDLY THINE OWN."
Master made me give up my station,
I held on his plantation,
He says I beat all creation,
Eating up saft corn.
Oh, yes—
Oh, yes—
Am I not fond of saft corn ;
Oh yes, oh yes,
Am I not fond of saft corn.
Saft corn, saft corn, fal red dedle, fal red dedle
Saft corn, saft corn, fal red dedle, fal red dedle,
To my hi diddle, an ho diddle, hi diddle hoo dar.
To my hi diddle, an ho diddle, ha! ha! ha !
Of all de days gib me but one day,
Dat come 'tween Saturday and Monday,
Dat day is always so handy,
For roasting my green corn.
116 Oh yes, &e.
POPULAR. SONGS.
Oh, when I get hold of butter
De corn don't get chance to flutter,
Oh. he gib him suoh a flavor,
I eat up de corn, cob and all.
Oh yes, &c.
BOOT BLACK CHORUS.
Mark, darkies hark, hush, niggers hush,
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush and rub away,
Blackin ob de boots on de Canal street plan ;
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush and rub away,
Blackin ob de boots on de Canal street plan;
Will neber make a fortune for de colored gentle¬
man.
Chorus.—Den so happy are we,
Darkies so free,
Blackin de boots up de alley.
Work, niggers work, fore de sun dus rise,
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush and rub away,
De light am a shining in de white folk's eyes,
Brush away,
Scrub away,
All brush and sci%b away,
117
POPULAR SONGS.
Now if any colored lady should fancy our face.
We will wait upon her home wid de alamode
de grace.
Chorus.—Den so happy are we,
Darkies so free,
Blaekin de boots up de dark alley.
N1GGAS TRABEL.
Oh de steam boat,
Oh de steam boat,
Oh de steam boat makes a mighty splutter,
And when de biler bursts it lands you in de
water.
Rail road trabel is getting all de go,
Kase de mail coach and steam boat go so
berry slow.
Oh de hoss boat,
Oh de hoss boat,
De hoss boat can trabel if de wedder's wet or dry
And noffin can stop you if de old hoss should die
Oh de mail coach,
Oh de mail coach,
Oh de mail coach is good to cure de gout,
It will rattle off your buttons and turn you in¬
side out.
Oh de telegraph,
Oh de telegraph,
De telegraph is good for transport de lightning
Or to get de news from Mexico whar de Yan¬
kees is figl ting.
118
POPULAR SONGS.
Oh de bullgine,
Oh de bullgine,
De bullgine goes so fast dey trabel out of sight,
And de only way you got to eat is to stop and
take a bite.
CLAR DE TRACK.
Oh here's a song that never "was sung
By any nigger old or young,
Ail if you all will listen to me,
I'll sing about some niggers that's free.
So clar de track de bullgines coming,
Clar de track de bullgines coming,
Clar de track de bullgines coming,
See de niggers how dey're running.
Oh Dandy Jim an my aunt Sally,
Both live down in shin bone alley,
Lucy Neal an Mr. Brown,
Lives in a house that's out ob town.
So clar de track, &o
Misses Tucker an ole Joe,
To take a ride one day did go,
An Daniel Tucker thought he'd shine,
Along wid de gal in de cabbage line. .
So clar de track, &&
De yaller sun has jis gone down,
An Pompy Smash is here in town,
Lubly Dina's in a trance,
An Jim Crow's singing the Boatman Dance.
So clar de track, &c.
119
POPULAR SONGS.
De Guinea Maid an my ole Dad,
One night a little fun dey had,
Ring the bells an Jim Crack Corn,
I never see the like since I was born.
So clar de track, &c.
Tom Walker behind the old gum tree,
Ole Knapper singing ole Pee Dee,
The yaller gal that come from Guinea,
[n the floating scow of ole Virginia.
So clar de track, &c,
TRIP TO A NIGGA MEETING
In New-York I went to a nigger meeting,
It was upon a Sunday night,
To see ole broder Clem,
What dey say can read and write.
Wheel'about, &c
When I got to de meeting house
Dey say you better go,
[Case you cum to raise dedebil here,
And jump Jim Crow.
Wheel about, &c
So I creep through de window,
And sat myself adown ;
Broder Clem gub de text—
Den dey hand de plate around.
Wheel about, &c.
In de ninty-lebenth chapter
Ob Elton's Comic Almanack,
120
POPULAR. SONQS
Dar it tell you all about dare
De white man and brack
Wheel about, &c
He says dat Cane was de fuss man.
Julycome Caesar was de toder;
Dey put Adam on de treden mill,
Kase he killed him broder.
Wheel about, &c.
And den dat Mr. Samson
Was de man who build de ark,
Mr. Jonas was de fisherman
Who swallowed down de shark.
Wheel about, &c.
De rain pour down forty days,
By de counting;
And landed Samson and de ark
Upon de Alleghany mounting.
Wheel about, &c.
BLACK PINK.
All the way from Wurginny,
My lubly pink I cum to see,
Oh, my pink ! my lubly flame!
You can't think I am to blame!
Walk jaw bone, on ginger log,
Oh, pink! I'm going de whole hog!
What noise*is dat dere I hear 1
Some black arter me, I fear;
121
POPULAR SONGS.
Lub is a ticklish thing you know,
It makes one feel all over so.
Walk, &c.
Stay a little, my Cato dear,
You need not dat steam scourer fear.
He never came liere in de day,
For he is lemonade up Broadway.
Walk, &c.
Who can dat dere nigger be ?
Try to cut in dere and cut out me.
Tell me pink—oh, don't be mute!
I soon will settle this here 'spute.
Walk, &a
Neber mind, dear Cato, don't make a fuss.
But cum to your luber and gim her a buss,
I see dat you are not very vex—
I know that you loves to kiss de fair sex.
Walk, &c.
If dat nigger be as great as Colonel Pluck,
I'll challenge him to meet me at Hobuck;
I'll fight genteel, and not like a nigger,
And end de dispute by de pull ob de trigger.
Walk, &c.
I tell you who dat black man be,
De steam scourer, dat dey calls dandy Cox,
An he'll be sent, if he don't mind his ways,
To Blackwell's island, by Master Hays.
Walk, &c.
I won't care for dat black man at all,
I was in'duced to him at de rag ball
122
popular songs.
He talk much about de niggar nation,
And says he head ob de bobulation.
Walk, &c.
Dat black man is 'sciple to Fanny Rite,
Au he only want you for one nite;
Oh, now, Pink, he no true man,
He only lubs you on de Canal street plan.
Walk, &c.
BLUE TAIL FLY.
Air—Clar de Kitchen.
I have sung about my long tail blue,
So often you "want something new,
With your desire I'll now comply,
My song is about a blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
Dar's many kinds of dese are tings
From different sort of insect springs,
Some hatch in June, and some July,
But August brings ae blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
If you should go in summer time,
To Carolina's sultry clime,
If in de shade you chance to lie
You will soon find out de blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch- his eye wid a brier.
123
POPULAR SONGS.
When I was young, I used to wait
On Massa's table hand de plate,
And pass de bottle when he dry,
And brush away de blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
Den arter dinner Massa sleep,
He make dis nigger wirgil keep,
And when he gwan to shut he eye,
He tell me watch de blue tail fly.
Heater*creater, nigger beater
Scratch his eye wid a brier
Den when he ride in de arternoon,
I follow wid a hickory broom,
De pony being berry shy,
When bitten by a blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
One day as he rode round the farm,
De flies so numerous did swarm,
One chanced to bite him on the thigh,
De devil take dat blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier
De pony jump, he run, he pitch,
He tumble massa in the ditch,
He was dead, de jury wonder'd why
The verdict was a blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
124
POPULAR SONGS.
Dey laid liim by a simmon tree,
His epitaph is dar to see,
Beneath this stone pin I'm forced to lie,
All by de means a blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
Ole Massa's dead O, let him rest,
Dey say all tings are for de best,
I'll never forget until I die,
Ole Massa and the blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beater,
Scratch his eye wid a brier.
And now my song for to complete,
I'll tell you something ;bout our fleet,
Now don't you rale an wipe your eye,
At de way I end de blue tail fly.
Heater, creater, nigger beate/,
| Scratch his eye wid a brier.
De sloops of war two skeeters be,
And de schooner's in a less degree,
To de North Carolina we comply,
De appellation—blue tail fly.
None to beat her, none corapleter,
If dey beat her, dey had better
Scratch dar eye wid 1 brier,
And when he cotch de measure wild,
Dis nigger shook de head and smile,
To tink dat he should be de chile,
De white folks come for to beguile.
Wid song so sweet, if twice repeated
So much greeted if you beat it,
125 I scratch my eye wid a brier.
popular songs
De Hornet gets in your eyes and nose,
De skeeter bites you through your clothes,
De gojlinipper sweetin high,
And woser yet de blue tail fly.
Dar^s none completer, skeeter beater,
Par's none to meet her, dey had better
Scratch dar eye wid a brier.
OH, SEA BASS
Twas Sambo Sip, the barrow man,
Was bound along the street
And long and loud de fish he call,
To eb'ry one he meet—
And eb'ry one dat hear de noise
Stare at he as him pass,
Because he hab de loudest voice
Dat bawls out—Oh! Sea Bass !
Oh! Shad and Flounders too he cry,
And many oder fish,
And swear dey be as fresh and good
As eber went on dish.
He troll'd he barrow near de curb
And neber went too fast
For fear he lose he customer—
He ball out—Oh ! Sea Bass!
An eb'ry one dat hear he voice,
Tink he fish must be good,
He customer at least tink so,
Because he ball so loud.
And when a Catholic he spy,
Dat lub to go to Mass,
126
POPXTLAB SONGS.
On Friday as lie pass him by,
He bawls out—Oh! Sea Bass!
Success attend old Sambo's bones,
Whereber he do roam,
And may he neber want a friend,
Abroad, nor yet at home.
And when he die, if such a ting
Should eber come to pass,
We'll neber such a noder get;
To cry out—Oh ! Sea Bass !
THERE'LL BE A STORMY MORNING
Good morning, comrade, Sneaket, come,
Before we cry the morn,
Let's pop into the box, my boys,
And take a social horn.
For there'll be a stormy morning,
And the wind begins to blow,
Then let us have a blow out first,
A jolly whiskey blow.
For there'll be a stormy morning, &e
Psc temperance, but I'll taste de schnapps,
For ffear my troafc get sore,
I'm not de only one dat takes
A drop behind the door.
For there'll be a stormy morning, &C.
I'se sawed two dollars by de cat's gut,
Now to bed I'll go,
For I has got some wood to saw,
By time de chickens crow.
127
POPULAR SONGS.
Oh, dere'll be a stormy morning,
De wind begins to blow.
Dere'll be a stormy morning,
De wind begin6 to blow.
Miss Lignumvitae's sleepin fast,
And snoren double bass,
If I kotch a darkey liere to night,
I'll saw him cross de face.
For there'll be a stormy morning, &a
De rail roads off our Market Street,
Behind the six horse team,
Come down to Johnny Cox's boys,
And dere get on our steam.
For there'll be a stormy morning,
And de wind begins to blow,
Then let us hab a blow out first,
A jolly whiskey blow.
We're jolly rail road porters,
And we push for jobs with spunk,
Bekase we fill our vital chesta
By gettin' people's trunks.
For there'll be a stormy morning, &c.
Dar my sweet Lignumvitse lives
We'll sar'nade her as we passes,
Oh, she's a colored angel, boys,
Dat's dipped in black molasses.
And dere'll be a stormy morning
De wind begins to blow,
So let's gib her a blow out first,
A stormin music blow.
For there'll be a stormy morning, &c.
128
POPULAR SONGS.
POLLY-TICKLE SONG.
Ole Harrison he die too soon,
And Tyler cum, dat sly ole coon;
He tab a son dat speak in rhyme,
Widde kitchen cabinet pans keep time.
Clar de kitchen, old folks, young folks,
Clar de kitchen, old folks, young folks,
Ole Wurginny neber tire.
De Capting tell us we're gwan to fight;
When we got dar, we's all in a fright;
So we vetoed de word before we got hurt,
And dis nigga's heel was cuttin' dirt.
Clar de kitchen. &a
Down dat hill dis nigga go,
De way he travel wasn't slow ;
He go trait off like man of sense,
And jump o'er de politic fence.
Clar de kitchen, &a
CYNTHIA SUE.
Long 'fore dis time, dis nigger dwell,
In a place called Tuscanoe,
I loved a gal with tarry skin,
Her name was Cynthia Sue !
Oh, Cynthia, my darlin' honey,
Oh, Cynthia, I lub you more den money,
She used to wink her heels to see
Her Brutus when he cum,
His jaw-bone on his solger,
An de banjo 'tween his thumb.
Singing, Oh. Cynthia, Ar-a
129"
POPULAR KMTW
Brutus sleep awake all night,
An' eat no wittals too,
He lib on air, an' dat air,
Was dis, oh, Cynthia Sue!
Oh, Cynthia, &C
One night he keep awake all day,
An' dreamp a happy dream,
He felt the voice of Cynthia,
An' thought he saw her scream
Oh, Cynthia, &c
De darkey dealers buy me,
Cynthia, sighin', come,
She twist her hands around me,
Like a grape vine round a gum.
Oh, Cynthia, &£.
I've ben to Souf, an' ben to West,
An' ole Wurginny too,
Dar's not no whar, nor any whar,
A gal like Cynthia Sue.
Oh, Cynthia, ha-
Dey took me down ole Massisippi,
De flood was high its true,
But I made it five feet higher,
When I wept for Cynthia Sue.
Oh, Cynthia, &c.
Dey fotch me to New Orleans,
I try to run away,
BtH>yaller fever, an' yaller gai%
Won't let me leabe nor stay.
Oh, Cynthia! my darlin' honey,
Oh, Cynthia, I lub you more den mono?
130
POPULAR SONGS
MARY BLAME.
COMPOSED AND SUNG BY CHARLES WHITE
I once did lub a yaller gal,
I'll tell you all her name,
She come from old Birginia,
And dey call her Mary Blane.
Den farewell, farewell,
Farewell poor Mary Blane,
Oh do take care yourself my dear,
I'm coming back again.
When first I fell in love wid her,
Her fections I did gain.
I courted her for seben years,
Before she was Mrs. Blane.
De niggars all went out one night,
A hunting for dar game,
Dey den came to my peaceful hut,
And stole poor Mary Blane.
De time rolled by it griebed me much,
To think no tidings came,
I hunt de woods both night and day.
To find my Mary Blane.
I found my lub tied to a tree,
She was in berry great pain,
De niggars had tarr'd and feadered net
And so left Mary Blane.
I den did take my lub strait home,
To releibe her from her pain,
But afore de sun did shine next day,
Stiff and cold was Mary Blane.
131
POPULAR SONGS.
SUSY BROWN.
AS SUNG BT WARREN WHITE THE ETHIOPIA®
8ERENADER.
I once did court a yaller gal,
Her name was Susy Brown,
De white folks said my Susy,
War de Belle of Lynchburg town.
Den tune up dat ole fiddle,
An let de banjo sound
And I will sing dat good ole song
About my Susy Brown.
Susy went to a ball one night,
Along wid Sally Russle,
She wore her alligator shoes,
But den forgot her bussel.
Den tune up, &c.
My Susy she is handsome,
My Susy she is young,
I nebber seed a yaller gal,
Ar'd such a flattering tounge.
Den tune up, &o
For Susy I goes a claming,
And when I make a haul,
I treat dat sassy yaller gal.
To ole Pat Williams' ball.
Den tune up, 4c
My Susy looms it berry tall,
Wid udder like a coVp,
Sh'd give nine quarts easy,
But white gals don't know how.
Den tune up, &c
POPULAR SOICGS.
BRESS DAT LUBLY YALLER GAL.
Oh, bress dat lubly yaller eal,
Dat de white folks call Miss Dina,
Oh, pity me ye niggas all,
And tell me where 1 can find her.
Oh, now she's gone and left you,
For fear dat you would harm her,
To day after to-morrow,
She's gone to Alabama.
Her hair is like de shining silk,
She's big and round as rorus,
She lives upon good mush and milk,
And morus multicorus.
Oh, now she's gone, &c.
Oh, since she's gone and left me,
My heart is filled wid sorrow,
I'll find some oder yaller gal,
And marry her to-morrow.
Oh, now she's gone, &c.
BUFFALO GALS.
\s I was lumbering down de street,
0 down de street,
0 down de street,
Dat pretty color'd gal I chanc'd to meet,
0, she was fair to view.
Oh Buffalo gals, wont you come out to night,
Wont you come out to night,
Wont you come out to night,
0 de Buffalo gals wont you come to night,
And dance by de light ob de moon..
133
POPULAR SONGS.
Den we stopp'd awhile and had some talk,
0 we had some talk,
O we had some talk,
And her heel cover'd up the whole side walk
As she stood right by me.
Oh Buffalo gals, &c
Pd like to kiss dem lubly lips,
Dem lubly lips,
Dem lubly lips,
I think dat I could loose my wits,
And drap right on de floor.
Oh Buffalo gals, &c
I ax'd her would she go to a dance,
Would she go to a dance,
Would she go to a dance,
I thought dat I might have chance,
To shake my foot wid her.
Oh Buffalo gals, &c.
1 danc'd all night and my heel kept a rocking,
0 my heel kept a rocking,
0 my heel kept a rocking,
And I balance to de gal wid a hole in her stock
ing,
She was the prettiest gal in de room.
Oh Buffalo gals, &c.
I «m bound to make dat gal my wife,
Dat gal my wife,
Dat gal my wife,
0,1 should be happy all my life,
If I had her along wid me.
Oh Buffalo gals, &c»
134
POPULAR SONGS.
DO FAR YOU WELL LADIES.
White folks I'm a going to sing,
And dance a fancy pigeon wing;
I really feel first rate to-night,
I'll throw myself clar out of sight.
Do far you well, ladies,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, far you well, ladies,
Ise gwine to Alabama.
Tight knee'd boots and square toed breeches,«
Oh, gib me de girl dat works de stitches;
Pantaloons strapped down behind,
Which irritates dis nigga's mind.
Do far you well, &c.
Negro wenches in dis town,
Dey walk about and strut around,
De oder day I caught one's eye,
Oh bless you Moses how she did sigh.
Do far you well, &c
Oh, I wish I was in Tennessee,
With my true love upon my knee,
Oh how happy I would be,
Drinking a Julip sangaree.
Do far you well, &c.
Oh, please get my clothes in order,
For I'm a going to leave you all to-morrow,
Do not let my parting grieve you,
Because I'm going away to leave you.
Do far you well, &c
135
POPULAR SONGS.
JULIANNA JOHNSTON.
Day hab gonede night hab cum,
Ole nigger take he rest,
Ob awl de gals I eber saw,
Julianna suits me best.
CHORUS
Dear Julianna Johnston don't you cry,
I'm gwaine away to leabe you,
Wait a little wile I'll cum by me bye,
Don't let my parting griebe you.
In de morning lub we must be gone,
I hear ole massa say,
Sleep lite, take kare don't sleep too long,
For we start at brake ob day.
Den Julianna, &c
Remember wat you promis me,
Wen we wauked side by side,
Beneaf de ole persimonon tre,
You sed yude be my bried.
Den Julianna, See.
An wen my lub, I'm gone away,
You sit an watch de moon,
0 tink ob him hoo kotch for you,
De possim an de coon.
Den Julianna, &c.
De mornin brakes ole massa kails,
Poo nigga mus obay,
Good bye my lub I'll tink ob dee,
Forebber an a day.
Den Julianna, &c.
13s
POPULAR SONGS.
LUCY NEALE.
I was bom in Alabama,
My master's name was Meal,
He used to own a yallovv gal,
Her faame was Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale,
Oh! poor Lucy Neale,
If I had her in my arms.,
How happy I would feel
Miss Lucy she was handsome,
From de head down to de heel,
And all de niggas fell in love
Wid my pretty Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale, &c
She us'd to go out wid us,
To pick cotton in de field,
And dar is whar I fell in Love
Wid my pretty Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale, &c
I asked Miss Lucy would she have me,
How glad she made me feel,
When she gave to me her heart,
My pretty Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale, &c.
Miss Lucy had a baby,
'Twas limber as an eel,
It was de image of its dad,
And resembled Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale, &c
137
POPUL*AR SONGS.
My massa he did sell me,
Because he thought I'd steal,
Which caused a separation,
Of myself and Lucy Neale.
Oh ! poor Lucy Neale, &c
My boat it was a pine log,
Without eder rudder or keel,
And I floated down de riber,
A crying poor Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale, &c.
De nigga's gave a ball,
Miss Lucy danced a reel,
And none dah could compare,
Wid my poor Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy'Neale, &c.
Miss Lucy she was taken sick,
She eat too much corn meal,
The Doctor he did gib her up,
Alas ! poor Lucy Neale.
Oh! poor Lucy Neale, &c-
One day I got a letter,
And jet black was the seal,
It was de announcement ob de death,
Of my poor Lucy Neale.
And oh ! poor Lucy Neale,
And oh! poor Lucy Nealo,
If I had her in my arms,
How glad 'twould make nic fel
138
POPULAR SONGS.
OLE AUNT SALLY.
Way down to New Orleans I gits upon de landin,
I run against a cotton bale it fotch me up all standin,
Alamode de duck soup, de corner ob de alley,
I'll tell you 'bout a scrape I had wid my ole Aunt Sally
Sally, Sally, my ole Aunt Sally, &c.
I ax her won't she take a ride down upon de lebbe
She jumpt up an crack her heels an swore she wa*
ready,
I nebber spoke anoder word, nor will I gib de reason
I lite upon her fections for de balance ob de season
De season, de season, &c.
I hitch de Bull before de cart, jus likea clebber feller
I cut de bull to make him start, de bull begin to beller
I turned around to look for Sal, I nebber shall for
gotten,
Dar I saw her makin tracks across a field ob cotton
Cotton, cotton, across, &.c.
Up de hill an down de dale, I didn't seem to mind her
De bull's tail stuck out behind as he ran up behind he.
He run right slap agin a stump, but foun hesef mis
taken,
Sal dodged on t'other side in time to sabe her bacon
Bacon, bacon, in time to, &c.
I brace my heel agin de fence, de bull he look s*
sabbage,
Says he ole hoss I'll eat you up, same as I would
cabbage;
I softly creep up to him, just like a nigger stealin,
139
POPULAR SONGS
I lite upon him jus like a pig upon a tater peelli
Peelin, peelin, upon a tater, &c. 1
I gib him piece ob my advice, to hunt some od|
lodgin,
De bull kopt gwine roun de stump, an Sal she ke[
a dodgin;
She jumpt a rod or two aside, you ought to see lit
bound it,
An if de bull han't broke de stump, he.is still gwii
round it.
Kound it, round it, &c.
My song's most ended, an I'll hab you pay attention
To a circumstantial fac, dat Ise a gwine to mention
I want you all to know for spunk I'm not lacking,
Except Ise gwine to hab a fight, an den I want goof
backing.
Backing, backing, for spunk, &c.
POPULAR SONGS.
DE LIP HUNG DOWN.
WID OLE BOY SYMPHONY.
De lip hung down wid loads ob woe,
Still to de jaw bone clings,
De sweat from out de eye may flow,
But dey no comfort brings;
De banjo's hum its aid may lend,
To cheer de heart an' bone,
Yet 'bacca am de only friend,
De nig can call his own.
De mind and face black wid despar,
Still looks all round behind,
In hope to look at something dar,
To make all sorrow blind;
Den present quick rubs out de past,
Jis like an old dry bone,
An' 'bacca's all de friend at last,
De nig can call his own.
LUCY LONG.
I just come ou't before you to sing a little song,
ay it on the banjo, and I call it Lucy Long,
So take your time Miss Lucy,
Take your time Mis3 Lucy Long.
Take your time Miss Lucy,
Oh, Lucy, Lucy Long.
if I had a scolding wife, I'd whip her sun
your born,
take her down to New Orleans and trade hei
off for corn.
So take your time, &»
141
POPULAR SONGS.
«Oh, the wind blew o'er the ocean, the squirrel loal
his tail,
I'd laugh to see queen Victoria a sitting on a rail,
So take your time, &c.
Oh, my Lucy she is handsome, her breath is rader
strong,
Her heels stick out six feet behind, her voice is
like a gong,
So take your time, &c-
The first time I saw Miss Lucy, I was at the mar
ket skinning eels,
I would never seen her lubly face but I fell against
her heels,
So take your time, &c.
Oh, dar were sixteen bull-frogs come all this vraJ
from France,
Singing Lucy Long for the alligators dance,
So take your time, &c.
Oh, I went to treat Miss Lucy, I didn't mind ex¬
pense,
I bought her a pair of new ear-rings they cost ma
eighteen pence,
So take your time, &c.
Miss Lucy will not marry, I asked her t'other day,
She said she'd rather tarry so I let her have her way
So take your time, &c.
14-4
POPULAR SONGS.
VIRGINNY'S BLACK DAUGHTER,
rewell, farewell, to Virginny's black daughter,
:rhus warbled a nigger by de light ob de moon,
; clam eber lay on de bay black water,
Hore sweeter than you are to me.
For I will hunt for de lubliest possum,
Dat eber was cotched in de holler gum tree
Only if you will steal from your chamber,
And meet me by de old gum tree,
r shall I beloved by my Dinah forget her,
Vomassa should beat me and make my back smart
t to her side would I stick, for I lub her,
u?or she is de pride ob my heart.
LIST, NIGGER'S LIST.
List niggers list,
For the bells are ringing,
Sing boys merrily sing boys steadily,.
Don't you dearly love to hear,
A nigger boy sing,
Sing boys merrily sing boys steadily,
en we go in the fields for to hoe the corn,
den dat we love to hear Dinah blow the horn,
j niggers so gay all work away,
night will come at de close of day.
Come nigger's come,
While de sun does shine.
Sing boys merrily sing boys steadily,
We'll catch de coon,
Which taste so fine;
Sing boys merrily sing boys steadily,
minx in de woods have left dar home,
te eaicb d»4n we must roam. MS
POPULAR SONGS.
GO AWAY, GO AWAY, DON'T COME NIGH.
SUNG BY WM. LACONTA.
We am de serenades an we are bound for de nortl,
War de bulltoad died, wid de whooping cough,
De pollywog lived in de bottom ob de spring,
De water got so cold dat he could not sing
Den go away, go away, don't cum nigh,
For I know dat nigga by de white ob his eye,
Den go away, go away, don't cum nigh,
For I know dat nigga by de white ob his eye,
Oh away aown souf close to de moon,
War I learnt to sing dis lubly tune,
De nigga's dar, dey grow so fat,
Dat on dar heads dey can't wear a hat.
Den go away, go away don't cum nigh,
For I know dat nigga by de white ob his eye-
As I was playing out on a log,
Out ob de pond dare jumped a frog,
De frog he leaped to hear me sing,
An began for to cut de pigeon wing,
Den go away, go away, don't cum nigh.
For I know dat nigga by de white ob his eye.
I come from old Virginny one berry fine day,
An de riber being frozen I skeeted all de way,
An nigga, don't you hear de white folks say,
Sam get your banjo down an play,
Den go away, go away, don't cum nigh,
For I know dat nigga by de white ob his eye
144
POPULAR SONGS.
JIM CRACK CORN ! I DON'T CARE
If you should go in summer time,
To Souf Carolina sultra clime,
And in de shade you chance to lie,
You'll soon find but dat blue tail fly.
Jim crack corn I don't care!
Jim crack corn ! I dont care !
For massa me gave away
When I was young I used to wait,
On massa's table and hand de plate,
I'd pass the bottle when he dry,
An brush away de blue tail fly,
Jim crack, &c.
When ole massa take his sleep,
He bid dis nigga sight to keep,
An when he gows to shut his eye,
He tell me watch dat blue tail fly.
Jim crack, &c.
Ole massa ride in afternoon,
I follow arter wid a hickory broom,
De pony he is bery shy,
Kase he bitten by de blue tail fly.
Jim crack, &c.
De pony run dar jump an pitch,
He trowed ole massa in the ditch,
He died an de Jury all did cry,
Dat de verdict was de blue tail fly-
Jim crack, &c.
Ole massa's dead now let him rest,
Dey say all tings am for de best,
I nebber shall forget till de day I die,
Ola massa and de blue tail fly.
Jim crack, &c.
145
POPTJXAR SONGS.
OLD NAPPER.
A going down Old Sandy Point,
De oder afternoon,
Dis niggar heel come out of joint,
A running after de Coon.
CHORUS.
Den rise Old Napper, ah ! ah !
O coch him Napper, ah! ah!
Den rise Old Napper, coch him by de wool,
And hit him in de eye-ball bim.
0 wen I vent to New Orleans,
I did not mean to stay,
1 laid my head in a yaller gals lap,
Old Napper fainted away.
Den rise Old Napper, &c.
Old Napper when he trabled,
His trouses dey were thin,
And he was'nt partickler,
About peep holt of skin.
Den rise Old Napper, &c.
Come set you down Old Napper,
And were you beer so long,
Thoughts had aleft me,
And cross de seas had gone.
Den rise Old Napper, &c.
I look rite ober de riber,
And riber run very high,
0 dare I seen de Napper,
And de tear was in his eye.
Den rise Oid Napper, &c.
Old Massa in de parlor,
And Missa in de hall,
Old Napper in kitchen,
I like better dan all. 146
POPULAR SONGS.
OLD DAD.
SUNG BY DAN EMMIV.
I've sung so much ob Dandy Jim,
Ob course you know all about him;
I've heard said when I war a lad
Dat none but a wise child knew his own 01 Dad*
01 Dad! 01 Dad!
Old Dad he took a swim all alone,
He dived like'm feather and swim like'm stone,
One day 01 Dad he took a swim,
He hung he clothes on a hickory limb.
01 Dad!
He looks at de water, den at de land,
De moskeeto bite him 'im, so he could'nt stand,
Wa'll he couldn't swim, he dove bery bad,
And dat war de last ob my 01 Dad!
01 Dad!
One day my moder 'spressed a wish,
Dat I should go and catch some fish ;
I bait my hook to kotch a shad,
An de first fish dat bit war my 01 Dad!
01 Dad!
I pulled away wid all my mought,
And all for to get de ole man out!
My fish pole broke, an I got mad,
And down to de bottom, went 01 Dad!
01 Dad!
147
POPULAR SONGS.
Down below her ghost war bent,
An to de debbil he did went;
De debbil him looked berry bad,
Kase dar war no room for my 01 Dad.
01 Dad!
He stirred de sinners wid a pole,
All for to make a little hole;
Hit em on de shin with a big ox gad,
Make room says de debbil for my 01 Dad!
01 Dad!
De debbil he tole him for to go back,
De ol man shouldered his knapsack;
An when dar's more room to be had,
Belzeebum will send for my 01 Dad '
01 Dad!
Now de ol man he is back again,
[n dis upper world ob sin ;
Wid an ear like a bacca leaf an tail like a shad,
De debbil put his mark on my 01 Dad 1
01 Dad!
One night while mudder laid asleen.
A nigga in de house did creep !
Who's dat ? says she, but she soon feel glau,
For she knew by de smell, it was my 01 Dad'
01 Dad!
(Spoken.) Yes! bress his ole wooly head, and
perfum'd heel, it war dat nigga, an it vvarnt
" nobody else" dan
My 01 Dad!
US
popular songs.
DE WILD RACKOON TRACK.
Tune—Therms no home like my own
In de wild rackocm track,
At de break ob de morn,
Tis de nigger's pride,
By de riber's side,
We am led on de track
By de howl ob de coon.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, na,
Dat, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
Howl to me when de coon I see,
Make de heart ob dis nigga bound,
I long to be climbing up dat tree,
To pull de old coon down.
I hab crossed de Mississippi,
I hab kissed de black gals lippy,
But de happiest time war in ole Carolina,
When dis nigga fall in lub wid a gal named
Dinah.
Ha, ha, &c.
Her lips war white, her eyes war brite,
Her voice war berry clear,
Her lips war big, she could sing like a pig,
Her mouth stretched from ear to ear.
Ha, ha, &c.
Her breafth is sweet, oh such a treat,
As a skunK, she comes it strong
A snoot like a pig, an a fist so big,
An her voice am like a gong.
Ha, ha, &c.
149
POPULAR SONGS.
THE JOLLY RAFTSMAN.
(Ml dia nigga war raised in Ole Wurginny,
And my lub her name is Dine,
She hab de sense to prefer dis nigga,
Tore Dandy Jim ob Caroline.
CHORUS.
My raft is on de shore, an 0! she light and tree,
To be a jolly raftsman is just the life for me,
An as I pole along, our song shall be,
Ob! darlin Dinah I love but thee.
Ob leave your mammy my deary lub,
In New York we'll fry dem steaks;
We'll feed de folks up to de hub,
And you shall hurry up dem cakes.
My raft is on d« shore, &c.
So good bye we bid to Ole Wurginny,
Niggas we bid you all farewell;
Our masters dey may go to Guinea,
In Free States we will dwell.
My raft is on de shore, &c
LYNCHBURGH TOWN,
De turkey buzzard am a large bird.
Much larger dan de crow,
And I'se de niggar from Ole Wurginny,
Ease I plays upon de banjo.
CHORUS.
Is'e a going a long down town,
Is'e a going a long down to town,
Is'e a going down to Lynchburgh town,
Dar 'tis, 'tis I totes my tobacco down.
150
POPULAR SONGS.
As I was going trough Broadway,
I meets a pretty yallar gal,
And de berry fus letters of her name,
War my pretty yallar Sail.
Is'e a'going a long, &c.
I put my arm around her waist,
Says she you am a wizzard;
You'se de nigga dat plays de ole banjo,
And you'se de nigga what's smashed my gizzard
Is'e a going a long, &c.
Her lips am like a muffin,
And her walk is so genteel:
Her eyes jis like fried oysters
On a streak of Indian meal,
Is'e a going a long, &c.
I took her to a ball one night,
But I did not mean to stay;
I laid my head on (lis yallar gal's lap,
An de yaller gal fainted away.
Is'e a going a long, &c.
If all de gals in dis here world
Was melted down in one,
I'd marry dem if I see fit,
Or else I'd let 'em run.
Is'e a going a long, &c.
De slow-go-motion is a fast ting,
And dis nigga is'nt slow;
For I beats Ole Bull clear out ob sight.
When I pick up dis old banjo.
Is'e a going a long, &c.
J 51
POPULAR SONGS.
PICCAYUNE BUTLER.
SUNG BV CHARLES WHITE.
Here I am a gwan to sing
An tell you how de banjow'l ring, eh, eh,
Dis song I know'l please you to death,
And laugh you nearly out of breff, eh, eh.
Piccayune Butler, coming, coming,
Piccayune Butler, coming, coming,
Piccayune Butler, coming, coming,
Piccayune Butler, come to town;
Ahoo, Ahoo, Ahoo, Ahoo, Ahoo, Ahoo,
Piccayune Butler, coming, coming,
Piccayune Butler come to town.
Away down souf whar I was born,
I worked all day in fields ob corn, eh, eh,
When de sun shines hot de niggars roast,
But when dey dance dey sweat de most, eh, eh.
Ob all de gals I eber see,
Miss Lucy Neal was best to me, eh, eh,
She chased de bulgine out of breff,
And dat's what caused Miss Lucy's deff, eh, eh.
Young folks come here to take a walk,
And wid dar lubs to have some talk, eh, eh,
De ladies ask am dat a fac,
Is dem gemblem realy black, eh, eh.
I'se gwan some day to buy a farm,
An a band of niggars I'll take along, eh, eh,
And ebery day we'll sing dis song,
Ob Piccayune Butler come to town, eh, eh.
152
POPULAR SONGS.
OH, DAR HE GOES—DAT'S HIM-
SUNG BY Z. WEST.
When first I ribe in dis place,
Dey took me for a harden case,
And de vite folks look me in de face
Oh dar he goes—dat's him.
CHORUS.
Oh dar he goes—dat's him,
Oh dar he goes—dat's him,
Oh dar he goes—dat's him,
'Dat's him dat plays de ole banjo.
Dey histe de blinds as I pass by,
And look a peep at me so sly,
Oh den I heard de blacke sigh,
Oh dar he goes—dat's him.
Oh dar he goes, &c.
Den to de kitchen I did ran,
Hid behind de frying pan,
And dis is de song dat I began,
Oh dar he goes—dat's him.
Oh dar he goes, &c.
So now vite folks dis song is done,
I hope I ha ve not offened one,
I just left were I began,
Oh dar he goes—dat's him-
Oh dar he goes, &c.
153
popular songs
BEHIND DE OLE GUM TREE
Behind de ole gum tree
A coon declined one day,
A black bird dar he see,
An' sung to her dis way:
Come down my tortle dove,
Dis stomach pants for thee,
Hungry dy lubber cries,
Why dont you come to me.
No more in racoon holler,
I rove at broke ob day,
Oar's no bird dar I foller,
Dat smells an' sings so gay.
Den come my tortle dove,
Dis stomach pants for dee,
Hungry dy lubber cries,
Why dont you come to me
WHO'S DAT KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
Down in the woods arter coons one night,
Dar I seed a great big light,
De bulgine scared me so I thought I was no more
An I run so hard against the house my head went
through de door.
Who's dat knocking at de door ?
Who's dat knocking at the door ?
First Voice.—Is dat you Sam
Second Voice.—No it is Jim
Third Voice.—You aint good lock¬
ing an you cant come in,
154
POPULAR SONGS.
And its no use a knocking at de door
any more,
Its no use a knocking at de door.
! hab often tell ob habin wives,
But I neber heard tell ob one dat had nine lives
She was deformed in de limbs and she had a
crooked jaw,
Come from an accident dat happened wid de
door.
Who's dat knocking, &c.
I dress myself up when I get done my work
And I went to a dance to see de wenches flirt,
Dar was a Bull dog in front an he stretched out
his paw,
An he jerked off my coat tail a going in de door.
Who's dat knocking, &c.
Going ober to Hobuc, in de steam boat,
De bulgine busted and we all got afloat ?
I swum berry fast to a house near de shore,
And I hung my clothes to dry on de railings round
de door.
Who's dat knocking, &c.
Old Dan Tucker and Dandy Jim is dead,
Dey boff got killed a bucking wid dar head;
Dey boff had a fuss an you ought to heard dem
sware,
Dafs de way dey met dar death, a bucking gin de
door.
Who's dat knocking, &c.
155
POPULAR SONGS
UNCLE GABRIEL.
Mr. Coon is a mighty man !
He carries a bushy tail,
He steals ole Massa's corn at night,
A.n husks it on a rail.
CHORUS.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy,
Oh do cum along, oh do ;
What did Uncle Gabriel say?
Ginney can't you cum along too ?
De Squirrel hab a bushy tail,
Stumpy grows de hair—
De Coon's tail am ring'd all 'roun;
De Possum's tail am bare.
Do ciiA along, ole Sandy, boy, &c
De Fox he is a sabnge ting,
Wheneber he takes a notion—
Did you eber see de Fox's tail
A sailing on de Ocean ?
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy, &&
De Peacock's tail am oerry high,
It reach up to de Moon,
He cast his eye upon his foot—
Tail drop berry soon.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy, &c.
Pig's tail dat is berry short
Curl all round an round,
De ole Sow's tail it grow so long,
It drags upon ue ground.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy,
15>i
POPULAR BONGS.
De Tod-pole hab a little tail
Before he turn a Frog;
Den walk into my parlor, gals,
An take a drink ob grog.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy, &c
Nigga's hair am berry short,
White man's hair am longer,
White folks dey smell berry strong,
But Niggas dey smell stronger.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy, &c.
De buzzard he pull up my corn—
De shot-gun lost he trigger;
De .vhite folks dey's got"no tails—
Neuier has de nigger.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy, &c.
De Mink ho is a mighty ting,
He rambler round an round,
De only ting disturbs his mind,
Am to hear my banjo sound.
Do cum along, ole Sandy, boy, &c.
POPULAR SONG8.
OLD KING CROW.
Massa and Mrs. promised me,
Dat when dey died dey'd set me free,
But now dey both am dead and gone,
An left dis darkey hoin' up corn.
Old King Crow,
Is the biggest thief I know,
He never says nothing,
But " qua!" " qua!" " qua!"
(Imitation of a crow,]
Den fetch along de cake, }
I tell you don't bodder me. > (Rfptat.)
Fetch along de hoe cake, )
I tell you taint done.
(Sung with two voices.)
Old King Crow went out to sup,
He drank his whiskey from a cup,
His lips did quiver, his breast did shake,
I really thought his heart would break.
For its old King Crow, &c
Mr. Crow is a fine old body,
He takes his little apple toddy,
And while he drink a playful smile,
Sets upon his brow de whole of de while.
For its old King Crow, &&
Mr. Crow is a goodly king,
His great delight it is to sing,
His cheeks are as red as de summer's rase,
Afid he am king of de " naturalized crows "
For its old King Crow, &c
158
POPULAR SONGS.
AT NIGHT WHEN DE NIGGAS WORK IS
ALL DONE.
At night when de niggas work is all done,
Dey sweeps de room
Wid brush and broom,
And clars the track for fun :
De gals dey all come from three miles around,
To sing dis song
De whole night long,
And dance and foot it down :
Wid de fiddle, and de bones, and de old tambo,
Triangle and de ole banjo,
Den come, come, come away before de brake of day.
One night this nigga was taken wid surprise,
A nigga wench
Set on de bench',
Who shot me wid her eyes.
She pierced my heart all through and through,
She made me feel
Like a fresh skinned eel,
Just popped into a stew.
Wid de fiddle and de bones, &c.
Wid a fainty voice I call for a calabash of water,
It was brought by her,
When she says dear sir,
I'm old Dame Dowden's daughter.
It rushed through my heart like a ball of fox fire,
It was dat night,
By de moon light
We went before de squire's,
Wid de fiddle and de bones, &C.
159
POPULAR SONGS.
GOOD BYE JuHN,
OR,
THEM NEW-YORK GALS
Here we is in de broad light ob day,
Lemonading up de great Broadway,
We's feel so queer an eber shall,
When we tilik on de beauty, ob de New-York gal
Dressed so fine all trimmed wid laces,
New-York gals, pretty faces,
Ancles small, an waist so slender,
Hah! hah! hah T go od bye John.
See 'em strut so mitty fine,
Clar de tract for dat bulgine,
De fuss little gal dat we meet,
Her bustle stick out behind jis one feet'
New-York gals.
Dear little feet, a tottling goes,
Dare mus be some corns on dem toes,
Sweet little gal, and old maid wixens,
Going a shopping to get dar fixins.
New-York gals
De gals in de souf am mitty proud,
Dey jis whisper, can't talk aloud,
De New-York gals can't they go it,
And when de-re mad ! don't they show it.
New-York gate
161
popular songs.
My old mammy ! I, 0 the dotten,
Two little udders all made ob cotten,
Stuffed before, an stuffed behind,
Get up gals there's corn to grind,
New-York gals
De prettyest gal dat eber I seen
War into Thompson's eating lee Cream,
When she war dry, I swan by gum,
Into her lemonade she pnt some rum.
New-York gals.
Down in Church-street I see my dear,
Took her in em shop to get root-beer,
But soon de wench began to grin,.
I thankee you massa ! I take a little gin.
New-York gala.
Arkansaw gals dar bonnets are big,
But a little one is de York gal rig,
On de back ob de head sittin' on a hair,
Come kiss me boys, dats if you dare. .
New-York gals.
You boys dare, let your lip drop,
An you wid de banjo jis you stop,
I express my feelin all I doesn't care,
I want to kiss dat gal sitten out dare.
New York gals.
162
POPULAR SONGS.
THE OLD NIGGER MAN.
I am an old nigger man, dey call me funny clovn*
I sing and play de tamborine up and down de
town,
f goes round to all de plays wid de tambo in n»
hand,
And plays 'em sich a tune what 'em ncber under¬
stand.
CHORUS TWICE.
Sing away, my jolly boys, and danoe
while you can,
Dere's no one half so cleber as de old
nigger man.
In tinking I am cleber, I don't tink you doubt,
t does de heel an' toe, wheel and turn about •,
De queen she come to see me dance, without any
sham,
Den she give an invitation to de old nigger man.
Sing away, my jolly boys, &c.
I go to de palace'wid my tambo in me hand,
And plays 'em sich a tune what 'em neber under¬
stand ;
Why de queen she like it berry much, and she
say it berry good,
So Prince Halbert's going to Jarmany to hab 4»
music understood.
Sing away, my jolly boys, &c.
I was born in old Virginny, from dere I went to
Prance,
And Betsy Taglioni she learn me fas to CiSSC©5
163
POPULAR SONGS
I tink I am as cleber chap as neber was seen,
Because I can sing a bit, and play de tamborine
Sing away, my jolly boys. &c
I went out de oder night, for te see de play,
And all de fine folks was dressed so bery gay,
I sat in de boxes by myself, all so bery cosey,
I Jump'd from de boxes on de stage, singin' Jim
along Josey.
Sing away, my jolly boys, &c.
Ladies and gentleman's, don't be ober nice,
If I'm not so cleber as dat old nigger Rice,
If de chap was here I would shake him by his
hand,
And play him sich a tune what him neber under
stand.
Sing away, my jolly boys, &c.
WHAR DID YOU COME FROM?
OR,
OH! MR. COON.
Tis a berry lubly night, an' de moon shin«
bright,
De clouds in de norf are gwoin' out ob sight;
De whipperwill sings, and de crickets all dance,
De frogs want to come it, but dey cant get t
chance,
An' its whar did you come from?
Who do you belong to ?
I wonder whar he went too;
Ra da, diddle, la da, da, da, da.
.'64
POPULAR SONGS.
Oh, a tree-frog sung :is do clouds begin to lower,
Says he, it's my opinion, we're gwoin' to liab a
shower;
So he crep under a tree leaf for an umbereller,
An' says he, ole thunder you may now begin to
beller.
An' its whar, &c.
Oh, dar was a bull-dog on a bank, an' a bull-frog
in a pool,
An' de bull-dog called de frog a dam cold water
fool;
He was jumpin' down to catch him, but a snapper
cotch his paw,
An' de bull-frog died a laffin jist to hear him wag
his jaw.
An' its whar, &c.
Oh, a wild puss take a notion to hab some pos¬
sum meat,
An' he put a walnut in his paws for to disguise
his feet,
But de possum see his smeller by de fox fiah light,
in' she crep in her bosom, an' vanished out ob
sight.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &c.
Jes fetch along de taters, an' we'll fry em in de
pan;
Oh, help yourself to possum ^fat, my charming
Mary Ann;
K nice bowl ob coon soup is jis de berry tmg_
To clear away de col)webs, an' let a nigger sing.
Oh. Mr. Coon, &c.
165
POPULAR SONGS.
Miss Matilda wass de dishes—Juliana bring de
broom;
Eberlina set de chairs back, all round de room;
Mr. Coon am a gentleman, I 'speck him here ti
night,
He's coming round de corner, gals, jis try and be
perlite.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &c.
De white bird and de black bird settin' in de
grass,
Preaching 'malgamation to de bobolinks dat pass;
To carry out de doctrine dey seem a little loth,
When along come de pigeon-hawk, and leby on
'em both.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &c.
Now take your place, musickers—let's hear dem
dulcum tones,
We'll danc* unto de music ob de banjo and da
bones,
Balance to your partners all, and keep mindin
de tune,
You're too fast, altogether, now, my worthy Mr.
Coon.
Oh, Mr. Coon, &o.
So now, come again de morrow, all in de arter-
noon;
For, really, sir, you hab come a little while too
soon,
Allow me de honour to say to you, good night;
For de gals am gettin' tired, and it's most daylight
Oh, Mr. Coon, &.C.
166
POPULAR SONGS.
JENNY, GET YOUR HOE CAKE DONE
I left Ole Virginny one very fine day,
Tie sea was wide, and I sail'd all the way,
The wind blew high, and blow'd so cold,
It blow'd the soip to ole Liverpool.
0, Jenny get your hoe-cake done, my lady.
Jenny, get your hoe-cake done.
One night there came a migty storm,
Which gave the nigger great alarm,
I see the captain run on deck,
I thought ole nigger would be shipwreck.
Q Jenny, &c.
Next morn we landed in the stream,
It seem'd to me just like a dream—
I called a boat, and row'd ashore,
And swore they'd catch me at sea no more.
O, Jenny, &o.
I jump off the boat, I landed on the pier,
My head felt so funny, and my head so queer;
My head and heels they kept in such a motion,
I thought I was still sailing on the ocean.
O, Jenny, &c.
Then I went up town, and a street did cross,
I stept just as high as an old blind hoss,
The people look'd and saw my figure,
And they said, " There goes a mighty tall nig¬
ger."
O, Jenny, &e
One white man call me sly old mouse,
So he took me off to de Custom House,
167
POPULAR SONGS.
And den dey would not let me go,
Till I paid de duty on de ole banjo.
O, Jenny, &a
Now, white folks you werry well know,
Dere's no nrusic like de ole banjo,
And if you want to hear it ring,
Look at de fingers on de string.
O, Jenny,
I'LL FIRE DIS TRIP.
I'll fire dis trip but I'll fire no more,
Oh! oh! oh ! oh! oh!
Oh, pay me my njflney, and I'll go on shore,
Fire down below.
Miss Fanny Bell, oh, fare you well,
Oh! oh! oh! oh! oh!
I'm going away p'raps to
Fire down below
A bully-boat, and a bully crew,
Oh! oh! oh! -oh! oh!
And a bully-raggin' captain too,
Fire down below
De posom jump and de panther roar,
Oh! oh! oh! oh! oh!
I woke dis morning at half-past four.
Fire down below
I creep out safely from my hive,
Oh! oh! oh! oh! oh!
And took a dram at half-past five.
Fire down below
168
POPULAR SONGS.
Says I, ole boat, let's have no tricks,
Oh ! oh! oh! oh! oh!
Her biler bust,—at half-past six.
Fire down below.
So now we trabel under sail,
Oh! oh! oh! oh! oh!
'Cause Jonah's de man dat swallow'd de whale.
Fire down below.
I'll fire dis trip, but I'll fire no more,
Oh! oh! oh! oh! oh!
Pay me my money and I'll go on shore.
Fire down below.
DE OLE VIRGINNY BREAK"DOWN.
Way down in old Virginny, dar I hear fiddle ring
Allde times dis nigga Jo, play upon de banjo
string, .
I got up in de morning, I go to de kitchen,
I get a chunk ob fire for-to go a fishin.
My mamma was a wolf, my daddy was a tiger,
I am what you call, de ole Virginny Nigger.
Half fire half smoke, a little touch of thunder,
I am what you call, de eighth- wonder.
I got up in de morning, bout broke ob day,
I went to de ribber, my canoe gone away.
When I go to de riber rader wide,
I look ober yonder, my canoe on toder side.
Last Saturday night, de niggers went a hunting,
De dog run de wooler, and de wooler run de tiger
POPULAR SONGS.
De tiger run de stiff neck, stiff neck run de debil
And day all run together, [Spoken.) And de nig*
ger run rite arter em.
I went to de mill, for to see de miller;
Says I ole Mr. Miller, aint you got a chor tobacco.
De miller had three dogs,one de name wasJowler,
De oder ole Ranger and de oder ole Hard Timt.
WALK IN DE PARLOUR.
I'm right from ole Yirginny wid my head full of
knowledge,
I've never been to free school or any other college,
I can tell you one thing it is a solemn fact,
I'll give you the history of the world in the twink'
ling of a crack.
Den walk in, (Simphony.)
Walk in I say,
Walk in and hear the banjo play,
Walk in the parlour and hear the banjo ring
And watch the niggers fingers while ha
picks upon the string.
This world is made of n>nd from the bottom of the
river,
And the sun's of all fox lire as you may diskiver,
The moon is made of cueese, and it always keeps
a gwine,
But the sun stands still while the world keeps
flying.
Dey first made the earth an den dey make th«
sky,
170
POPULAR SONGS.
And den dey hung it up above and left it dar to
« ,dry'
Den dey make the stars out of nigger wenches
eyes,
To give a little light when the moon don't rise.
So Adam was the first man, Ebe was de tudder,
Dey put Cain on the treddin mill, becase he kill
his broder,
Sampson was a strong nnnj nor wasn't counted
lazy,
Case he took an asses jaw bone and slew de gates
ob Gazy.
Massa Jonah was a sassage maker, Thusula built
the ark,
Julecnm Cesar was a fisherman, what swallow¬
ed down a shark,
De highest mountain in the world is Pompey'a
famous pillar,
And the greatest man that ever lived was Jack
the Giant Killer.
And dare was Major Noah got the varmints all
together,
Because it gan to look very much like rainy
weather,
The elephant it came last and Noah says you're
drunk,
Oh no I aint, it took me all the while to pack my
trunk,
Noah built the ark and he filled it full of sassage,
And all the animals had to take a cabin passage,
171
POPULAR. SONGS.
It rained forty days and nights, exactly by thi
countin,
And it landed Noah's ark on the Allegany moun-
tains.
Their was a wicked sinner and Dagon they did
call him,
Case Noah wouldn't let him in he said he meant
to maul him,
He made a rush and stubbed his toe and fell
against the ark.
His head was like a codfish and his tail was like
a shark.
BLACK EYED SUSYANNA.
Oh Is'e been to the east, I'se been to the west,
I'se beeii to Louisiana,
But of all the gals that I love best,
Is black eyed Susyanna.
Oh she is black,—dats a fact,
Oh she is black,—dats a fact,
My black eyed Susyanna.
Oh I'se been to the east, I'se been to the westy
I'se been to Louisiana,
But of all the gals that I love best,
Is black eyed Susyanna.
I courted a gal away out west,
Her name it was Jemima,
But none take impression on dis breast,
Like black eyed Susyanna.
172
POPULAR SONGS
" I wrote a letter to my love,
When I was in Alabama,
fid ebery line dat I did write,
Was black eyed Susyanna.
took them both to church, one night,
My Susey and Jemima,
ut the only one that took the shine,
Was black eyed Susyanna.
WORK NIGGERS, WORK.
Then de evening shades am going down,
And sinking in de west,
t. den de nigger's work am done,
yj An den he takes him rest.
■ Vork, niggers, work—work, niggers, work,
What care we for de morrow,
Set ob sun de day's works done,
Den we'll banish sorrow.
Tril tra tra, &o.
when de nigger's in de field,
De sun am shining hot,
3e leans himself upon his hoe,
And curse his tiresome lot-
Work, niggers, work, &c.
But when de evening cums again,
How good de niggers feel.
'Tis den dey take de banjo Sown,
And den dey dance de reel.
Work, niggers, work, &c.
173
POPULAR SONGS.
De niggers work, de niggers sing,
De niggers all de go,
Ob all de- instruments dey plays,
Gub me de ole banjo.
Work, niggers, work. &a
TO THE CORN FIELDS.
(Solo.) Moon thou looks round as a cheese.
Niggers answer .me this question if you please.
(Spoken)—Mr. Crow where are dese niggers a
going to night.
FULL CHORUS.
To the corn field, to the corn field, to the corn
field away,
While dare in the moonshine de ole possum lay,
Wid your nocum, wid your hicum, wid your hi-
cum away,
While dare in the moonshine de ole possum lay,
We'll scale all the fences we'll frighten de fowls,
We'll electrify de ducks, and we'll frighten do
owl,
Den quick wid your fixens' we'll capture the
vixens,
Before the old possum will give us the chase.
To the cornfield, to the cornfield, to the cornfield
away,
While dare in the moonshine, de old possupi lay,
Wid your hicum, wid your hocum, wid your
hicum away,
While dare in the moonshine, de old possum lay,
174
POPULAR SONGS.
'en scare up de nigger's and call up the dogs,
pVll hunt de ole possum from under de logs,
pu seize de banjo while I play de tambo,
aid den we ole darkies, will "tart for the
chase.
WALK ALONG JUMBO.
Oh I went down to town,
Oh I went down to town,
Oh I went down tc Lynchburg town,
I broke my yoke and my cart fell down.
Then get along Gumbo, sound your horn,
(Symphony)
Then get along Gumbo, sound your horn,
Get up in the morning soon.
I ride ole naggy down,
I ride ole naggy down,
I ride ole naggy down to town,
To buy my Lucy a new silk gowc
Dar's meat upon the shelf,
Dar's meat upon the shelf,
Oh dar's meat upon the sheit,
And de ole hoss died for the want o< treatb,
Ole massa rode a rail,
Ole massa rode a rail,
Ole massa ride upon a rail, _
And the big dog bit off the little u suit
175
iopular. songs.
DE BOATMEN DANCE.
De boatman dance, de boatman sing,
De boatman up to ebery ting,
When de boatman come on shore
Him spend all him money and work for more
Dance de boatman dance,
We'll dance all night,
Till de broad daylight
And go home wid de gals in de morn,
Heigho de boatman rows, (
Floating down de riber wid a ha, heigho
I went on board de udder day,
To hear what de boatman had got to say,
Dere I let my passion loose,
And dey pop me in de calaboose,
Dance, de boatman dance, &o
De loonsmen come in a short frock coat,
De boatman come wid a five pound note,
Stand back my lads, for you have to chance,
Cos we call dis de boatman's dance.
Dance, de boatman dance, &c.
When you hear de boatman's horn,
Look out my boys de ship is gone,
Wheel away and off we go,
And you shall strike de ole banjo.
Dance, de boatman dance, &o.
Ober de mountain sleek as a eel,
Dat's where de boatman trips on his heel,
De vind may blow, and de waves may toss,
By my soul I tink de boatman lost.
Dance, de boatman dance, &c.
176
popular song&.
WALK, JAW-BONE, JENNY COMES
ALONG, FN COME SALLY WID DE
BOOTEES ON.
Air.—First part of craco-vienne."
In Caroline whar I was born,
I husk de wood, and I chop de corn;
A roasted ear to the house I bring,
But de driver cotch me, and he did sing:
(Banjo, Jaw-Bone, and Tamborine accompany•
ments.)
"Walk Jaw-bone! Jinny, come along!
In comes Sally, wid de bootees on:
Walk Jaw-bone ! Jinny, come along!
In comes Sally, wid de bootees on !
De corn de driver from me rob,
And he make me eat de cob ;
I chew de cob, until my gums
Stick out like Carolina .plums.
Walk Jaw-bone! &c.
Dey take me out on 'tatcr-liill;
Dey make me dance against my will;
Dey make me dance on sharp-toed stones;
While ebery driver laughs arid groans.
Walk, Jaw-bone! &c.
Dey fasten me up under de barn,
Dey feed me dar on leaves ob corn;
It tickled my digestion so,
Dat I cotch de cholerophoby, oh!
Walk, Jaw-bone! &o.
177
POPULAR SONGS.
Dey took me out to de fence in de vale;
And make me ride on de top fence-rail;
De sharp fence-rail, it split me quite,
But den I split de rail for spite.
Walk, Jaw-bone! Sc.
Dey made me a scare-crow in de fields,
And a buzzard come to get his meal,
But in his face I blowed my breath,
And there was a case for grim Jim Death.
Walk, Jaw-bone! &c.
Next come a hungry eagle down,
Oh. gosh! thinks I, dis nigger's done brown,
But he winked, an' cried, " I'se de bird ob defree,
And won't eat de meat ob slavery."
Walk, Jaw-bone! &c.
Den come a panther from de woods,
He begun to tear off my dry goods ;
Says I, " Massa wild-puss, you may fail,"
So I hook out his eyes wid de toe of my nail.
Walk, Jaw-bone! &c.
Next come a weasel for my juice,
An' he knawed till he untied me loose;
An' den I made off with a quick salam,
An' luff him be without a dram.
Walk, Jaw-bone! &c.
Den down de banks I seed a ship,
I slid down dere on de bone ob my hip;
I crossed de brink, and yare I am,
If I go back dare, I'll be dam!
Walk. Jaw-bone! &e.
178
SOPULAR SONGS.
DE SANDY BOY
When 1 went down de river,
In de ole tobacco boat,
De boat upset away we went,
Right down de ole shark's throat
Do come along my Sandy boy,
Do come along oh, do,
What will uncle Gabriel say,
Oh Sally can't you too.
When I went down to Amiack,
To hear de people pray,
I laid my head in a white gal's lap,
And my black gal fainted away.
When I went d;wn to New Orleans,
To see de boatmen row,
I set myself down on a rock,
An' play'd de ole banjo.
Then I went down to Alo,
To buy a little goat,
The ole shark came behind us^
An' swallowed down de boat.
Sally swam an' so did I
An' thus to me did say,
You have lost my uncle's boat,
An' for it you must pay.
I lub de black gals and de white,
An' I lub all de rest,
I lub my black gal bery well,
But I lub myself de best.
POPULAR SONGS.
Then I went down to New Virgee,
To buy anuder boat,
An7 a ole shark came before us,
An' de boat run down his throat.
When I went to uncle Gabreil,
He asked me for de boat,
I said ole niggjp- its all right,
Its down de ole shark's throat.
GET UP IN DE MORNING
I took de banjo down to play,
To give my lub a seranade, .
She was up rader late a making pies,
When she went to bed she couldn't shut he
eyes.
Get up in de morning, get up in de morning,
Get up in de morning, before de broke ob day.
Sambo and Sail went a fishing one day,
In de steamboat down de bay,
Sail trowed de line and gub it a dip,
And kotched ole Sambo in de lip.
Get up in de morning, &a
I kotched de flounder, Sail kotched de shad,
Was'nt ole Sail riptaring mad,
She said mine was a porgy, hern was a whale,
She beat me about de head wid de ole shad's
tail.
Get up in de morning, &e.
We fished all night before de broke ob day,
Den rode home on de load ob hay,
ISO
POPULAR SONGS
Sail 'gin to sing, and I 'gin to play,
Get up in de morning before de broke ob day
Get up in de morning, &c.
A LIFE BY DE GALLEY FIRE.
A life by de galley fire,
Where de coppers am boiling wild,
Vv ho would not dis life admire,
Exactly suits dis child;
When into de galley I set,
De good segars I smokes,
Bar's many a kulored gal
In lub wid dis old cook.
A life by de galley fire,
Where de coppers am boiling -wild,
Who would not dis life admire,
Exactly suits dis child '
It suit, it suits, it suits, it suits,
Exactly suits dis child.
When in de caboose I go,
De turkeys and gobblers look,
For den dey all know
Full well dat I am de slaughter cook;
De turkeys look,
Dc gobblers wink dar eye,
For den dey know full well,
Dat one of de flock must die.
A life by de galley fire, &c.
As through cle streets I strut,
Like a fish will or t a fin,
IS J
POPULAR SONGS
O, give me de ole caboose,
Where I can lay back and grin;
An when de captain's done,
De basket I controls,
An de vittles I serve out,
To de poor and hungry souls,
A life by de galley fire,
Where de coppers am boiling wild,
Who would not dis life admire,
Exactly suits dis child;
It suits, it suits, it suits, it suits,
Exactly suits di^ child.
THE VIRGINNY BOY
Of all the states I ever saw,
Or ever wish to see,
Is dat good ole Virginny state,
Which first gave birth to me;
It was there my mammy raised me,
From a little darkey cub,
Until I did grow big enough,
To fall right smack in lub.
Until I did grow, &c.
I courted yaller Sally, O,
She was the blossom of my heart,
Her heart an mine were glued together,
They never come apart;
But the day'll come when we'll be wed,
01 then you'll see some fun,
POPULAR SONGS.
Oar hearts will stick together,
Just like the ole bee gum.
Our hearts will, &c.
As we were in a cotton field,
A thunder storm came on,
The lightning struck a cotton stalk,
Sally thought she's gone,
I turned around so very quick,
Oh, lord, how I did flew,
Sally fainted in my arms,
"I didn't know what to do.
Sally fainted, &c.
DE BANKS OB DE MISSISSIPPI.
A PAEODY ON THE BLUE MOSELLE.
When de fish-worm walks up arter a shower,
An' de moon on de river shine,
Our tubs we'll bring, for dats de hour,
To bob for eels quite fine;
Oh, den we darkies meet again,
An' walk de mud so slippy,
In de starry night when de eels do bite,
On de banks ob de Mississippi.
On de banks ob de Missis-si-hi-hi-hi-hip-pi,
Onde banks ob de Missis-sippy-hippy-hippy
In de starry night when de eels do bite,
On de banks ob de Mississippi.
If care should darken Dinah's brow,
Like a cloud in a thunder shower,
183
POPULAR SONGS.
I'll try de banjo's soovin cord,
An' sing ob de luscious hour;
When for a f ry fast home we'll fly,
With a tub of eels so slippy,
In de starry night, when de eels do bite,
On de banks of de Mississippi.
On de banks of de Missis-sippi-hippy, &c
OLE BULL AND OLE DAN TUCKER.
Ole Bull and Tucker, met one day,
Five hundred dollars for to play,
De women ran an de men ran too,
To hear dem fiddle up something new
Loud de banjo talked away.
An beat Ole Bull from de Norway,
We'll take de shine from Paganini,
We're de boys from ole Virginny.
Ole Bull he made his elbow quiver,
He played a shake an den a shiver,
But when Dan Tucker touched his string,
He'd made him shake like a locusts wing.
Loud de banjo, &c.
Now ole Bull he sweat an tug,
An his eye shine like de lightnin bug,
Dan played till his eye stuck out quite hot,
Like a dumplin in an ole black pot.
Loud de banjo, &c.
Bull put a some rosin on his bow,
An' put a little inside too,
184
POPULAR SONGS.
Dan soaked his wrist wid possum taller,
An his music made de sky turn yaller.
Loud de banjo, &c.
Dey stop awhile to blow an rest.
De people thought that both was best,
But when Dan Tucker played dis tune,
You'd thought each eye dar was a full moon
Loud de banjo, &c.
De ole Bull drew up his fiddle,
An squeeze him from de toe to de middle,
He played "Niagara" rapids an all,
Till he sweat like dat same waterfall.
Loud de banjo, &c.
His music sounded, dat am a fact,
Like de quick march ob de puss-cat-a-ract,
Some hoisted umbrellas, by Joby,
An' some folks shook wid de waterfoby.
Loud de banjo, &c.
But ole Niagara was no use,
Dan Tucker up de banjo screws.
An plays a hurrycane so true,
Dat up to de air de tree3 all flew.
Loud de banjo, &c.
Ole Bull he vanished from de scene
As quick as a nigga's fork an bean,
For he ride to Norway home again,
On de air ob ole Dan's Hurry cane.
Loud de banjo, &c.
185
POPULAR SONGS.
A DARKEY BAND AND A DARKEY
CREW.
A darkey band and a darkey crew,
Tally ya ha higho!
Are out in de west care killers so true,
Ya ha! ha! an' higho!
We spread our sail to de talkin' breeze,
An' we pull away at de oar,
An' den wid some whiskey, bread an' che—,
Our songs de ribber out roar.
A darkey band and darkey crew,
Tally ya ha! higho!
Am out in de west, care killers true
Ya ha! ha! an higho !
A darkey band and a darkey crew,
Ya ha Mia! an higho J
Can sing when de sky am black an' blue,
Ya ha! ha! an higho !
We travel up and down de stream,
Wid our hog an' our coon skin store,
An' we nebber put on de steam,
Till we get on de shore.
A darkey band, &c.
DE FLOATING SCOW OF OLD VIR¬
GINIA.
A Parody on the Flaunting Flag of Liberty.
De floating scow ob ole Virginia,
Dat I worked in from day to day
186
POPULAR SONGS.
A raking 'mong de oyster beds,
To me it was but play ;
But now I'm old and feeble too,
I cannot work any more,
Den take me back to ole Virginia
To ole Virginia shore.
OL if I was but young again,
I would lead a different life,
And I'd save my money, and buy a farm,
And take Dina for my wife;
But now old age he holds me tight,
And my limbs are growing sore,
Den take me back to ole Virginia,
To ole Virginia shore.
Oh, when I'm dead and gone to rest,
Lay de ole banjo by my side,
Let de possum an de coon to de funeral go,
For dey was my only pride;
Den in soft repose I take my sleep,
And I'll dream for eber more,
Dat in taking back to ole Virginia.
To ole Virginia shore.
COME BACK STEPHEN.
Come back Stephen, come back,
Come back Stephen, come back,
Come back Stephen, you are de very black,
Dat stole massa's overcoat, so quickly fetch hini
back.
187
POPULAR SONGS.
Chorus.
Sing, oh, lord ladies, you mustn't mind Stepher
For Stephen such a liar, dat de debil can't be
lieve him.
Good news, hark, good news,
Good news, hark, good news.
Massa bought a wagon,
Steve thought he'd cut a figure,
He drive it, an' smash to pieces,
Bof massa, wagon, nigger.
Chorus.
Come back Stephen, come back,
Come back Stephen, come back,
Come back Stephen, an' when you drive agin.
Put your legs up in your hat and you will not
smash your shin.
Good news, hark, good news,
Good news, hark, good news,
De ladies walk Broadway,
All in dar curls an' ruffles.
But when dar comes a stormy day,
Why den dey get de snuffles.
Come back Stephen, come back, &a
Good news, hark, good news,
Good news, hark, good news,
Bucks wear coat button's all before.
An' cut high button'd dashes,
So dey can button up dar lips,
By a hole in dar mustaches.
Come back Stephen, &c.
1SS
POPULAR SONGS.
NEBER DO TO GIB IT UP.
I'm old Mr. Brown, jis from de souf,
[left Lynchburg in de time ob de drowth,
De times dey got so hard in de place,
Dat de niggars dare not show dar face.
It will neber do to gib it tip so,
It will neber do to gib it up so.
[t will neber do to gib it up so, Mr. Brown,
It will neber do to gib it up so.
Old Jim ribber I floated down,
My backer boat it run upon de groun;
De pine log come wid a rushin din,
An stove bote ends ob de old boat in.
It will neber (to, &o.
De ole log rake me aft an fore,
It left my cook house on de shore,
I thought it wouldn't do to gib it up so,
So scull myself ashore wid de old banjo,
It will neber do, &o.
I gits on shore an feels berry glad,
I looks at de banjo an feel berry mad,
My foot slip an I fell down,
It will neber do to give it up so, Mr. Brown.
It will neber do, &a
Bye jolly but it made de ole nig laff,
Wid my boat I made a raff,
1 had a pine tree for a sail,
An steered her down wid my coat tail.
It will neber do, &c.
589
POPULAR SONGS.
I met wid a cat-fish in de riber.
I gosh, but it made dis nigger shiffer,
I steered right straight for de critters snout,
An turn de ole cat-fish inside out.
It will neber do, &c.
Dat same night as de sun did set,
I ribed in town wid my clothes all wet,
De niggars built up a great fire,
If dat's not true den I am a liar.
It will neber do, &o.
Master on de wood pile, barkin like a dog,
Toad in de mill pond, settin on a log,
Pogsum up a gum tree, saucy, fat an dirty,
Come kiss me gals, or I'll run like a turkey.
It will neber do, &c.
GRAND NIGGA MEDLEY.
Ah, who dare knocking at my door dat makes
sieh a noise,
Wid he sassy jaw, me got my eye up on de stoop
like
De wenches in de city dey all run arter me,
I lite pon dar feotions like a possom on a flea,
Dey can't suck in dis child I don't know nigger
how it would be
Christmas an new year's we gets a pine, board,
An dance to de tune ob sugar in de gourd,
Dat is de way I used for to do wen I
Went out by de lite ob de moon.
So merrily singing dis berry same time,
I kum across a big rackoon,
190
POPULAR SONGS.
A settin on de rail,
A settin on de rail,
A settin on de rail, I pull dis rackoon down-—
In ole Verginny, oh roly boly,
Dot massa gib me ginne for to—
Wheel about, an turn abou*, and do jist so,
And ebery time I wheel about I
Axe young Johnny whar he guannen, long time
ago,
Oh, I axe young Johnny ■whar he
War so glad dat I did kum out to "write.
Kum out to write, kum out to write,
Whar so glad dat I did kum out to write, for I
Beta pfernambulation through Broadway,
Up and down, up and down,
I stopped at Astor house an left my card,
And since I left Miss Dina dar washing in de
yard.
GIB US CHAW TOBACCO.
I come from ole Virginny's state,
Whar dey raise de leaf, sa,
Dar's nothin' like dis yaller weed,
To free de soul from grief, sa.
Oh, tobacco, its grog an' vittals crack, Sftj
De death ob griefs
Yirginny leaf,
Gib us a chaw tobacco.
191
POPULAR SONGS.
If Missy scold or Massa whip,
Or driver break our back, sa,
Dar's not kin sooves de heart an' lip,
As slick as a chaw tobacco.
Oh, tobacco, its grog an' vittals crack, &
De death ®b griefs
Virginny leaf,
Gib us a chaw tobacco.
De white folks often wonder what
Make nigger's grinners shine, sa,
But if dey chaw de 'bacca right,
Dem reason dey will find, sa.
Oh, tobacco, &o
It kills de double breasted tooth-ache.
Helps digestion too, sa,
And when you think ob nothin'
You can think ob something new, sa.
Oh, tobacco, &0.
When black Sam Bean, he hung himself
What was it fotched him too, sa,
Dey found alive within his throat,
A half pound of 'bacca chew, sa.
Oh, tobacco, kc.
JSatur planted a black baby,
To grow dis Weed divine,
Dat's de reason why de niggers
Am made a 'baccy sign.
Oh, tobacco, &c.
102
POPTTLAR SONGS.
DE BROKEN SHIN.
0, weepy, for de hour,
When to Miss Lucy's Bower,
Twas a bery dark night, ■when massa Sambo
came;
It was a cruel joke,
Dat his crooked shin he broke,
For the hog trough made him so very, very lamo.
He swore dat he'd choke,
As in de mud he stuck, *
An' he vow'd dat he'd never come dat way again •
Never would he try,
While de moon's in de sky,
Her hack door to find in de darkness and rain.
Miss Lucy heard his groan,
In de bed, quite alone,
She lay dar, and wonder what de matter could fee.
She jumpt into her clothes,
To de window den she goes,
It was so smashin' dark, dat her white eyes
couldn't see.
Loud howl de blast,
An' de rain he fell fast^
An' Sambo heard de voice of his lu.b from widin
Oh, Lucy, dear, said he,
Fetch a light and let me se&
For so badly I've smash'd all de calf of my shin.
193
POPULAR SONQ3.
A H00!
I'se come from Tennessee all over,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
Whar de niggas live in clover,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
While we watch de feedin cattle,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
We make de 'lodious sheep bone rattle,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
Jim Carron kotch a-turkey buzzard,
Ahoo! ahoo ! oo! oo!
'Black Betsy charm dis nigger's gizzard,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
Her figure set dis heart a trottin',
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo !
Her shape is like a bale o' cotton,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
Crow come to New Orleans to live, sir,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
He broke his wing 'gainst de yaller fever,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
New-York's got de Croaken water,
Ahoo! ahoo! oo! oo!
And now dey'll all de fire slaughter
Ahoo! ahoo ! oo! oo !
Old fat Sam died ob decline,
Ahoo ! ahoo! oo! oo!
And dey dried him for a 'bacco sign,
Ahoo ! ahoo ! oo! oo !
184
POPULAR SONGS
THE BACK ACTION SPRING.
I am a sassy nigger, and I cum from Tennessee,
I can fight, jump, and rassel, by the double rule
of three.
Every morning early, this nigger can be seen,
Firing up like de debil, jist to raise a little steain.
Den look at de 'squisite shin,
Oh, niggers now you can't begin.
For dat am de jay bird wing,
And dis de back action spring.
Kernel Johnson is a hero, Tecumsey was anoder,
At de battle ob de Thames dere, dey once fa**e de
odder,
Tecumsey wink at de Kernel, and de Kernel
wink at him,
Tecumsey raise de hatchet, but de Kernel shot
him—bim.
Den I tell you 'twas mighty big fun,
When he pint dat blunderbuss gun,
He shot ole Tecumsey on de wing,
Wid de double back action spring.
Old Nashbille dey say is a berry nice town,
Dar de niggers pick the cotton till de sun goes
down,
Dey danre all night to de ole banjo,
Wid a corn stock fiddle, and a shoe string l-ow,
Oh, den you ought to see dem prance,
When dey fotch out de gals to dance,
But I cotch 'em right upon de wing,
Wid de double back action spring.
195
P0PT7T/AR SONGS.
I remember berry well what ole massa used to
say,
Old Jack, if I lick you, you mustn't run away,
But one nite he lick me wid a big corn stalk,
And de first place I found myself was at New-
York.
Den de niggers look wid surprise,
Bress you hon^y how dey opened dar eyes,
Dey never heard ob such a ting,
As de double back action spring.
I went into a coffee house to get a little gin,
Dey swore I was so drunk dat dey wouldn't let
me in,
When dey found me out, dey wouldn't let me go,
Till I gib dem a tune on de ole banjo.
Den dey pass de bottle around,
And I make de hyfalutan sound,
I kick upon de banjo spring,
When dey cum de back action spring
Now I tell 'bout a scrape I had wid a gal,
De nine first letters ob her name was Sal,
I ax her for a buss, and I hab you for to know,
She struck me seven times afore she effect a blow,
Den I kick her right upon de shin,
She ax me not to do dat agin,
Den I kiss her right upon de chin,
Den she come de back action spring,
196
POPULAR SONGS
SOUND YOUR HORN.
[ met Miss Lucy Brown,
A going through de town,
I ax her how she sells her butter,
She says she sells em a shilling a pound.
Oh, get along, Jumbo, sound your horn.
Oh, get along, &c.
He crookedest nigga dat I know,
Dat beauty is Jim Brown ;
When in bed he can't lay still,
And out ob bed he has to jump,
When he wants to turn around.
Oh, get along, &c.
Dis nigga's head's so large,
It measure's half a peck,
He pulls his coat on over his legs,
Aid buttons his trowsers round his neck.
Oh, get along, &c.
You'd die wid laughter an de smell,
To see dis nigger dance,
He puts it down so good an strong,
He must have learnt it all in France.
Oh, get along, &c.
NIGGER TAKE WARNIN'.
A PAKODY ON ' KATHLEEN MAVOUE.NEEN.
Come nigger take warnin' I must draw you horn
in,
De squeaks of my grunters cries out for dera
' swill,'
197
tOPVLAB. SONGS.
1 put you 'pon treadmill you breeches for
pawnin',
And dancin' all night wid you gal 'pon de hill,
Undo you ole shirt and I will you "well leather,
You stole off last night wid my tamarind tart,-
Do'e you've sold you ole hat, you can't get
drunk for eber,
Perduce you black back and my whip make you
smart.
Wart! tink you I bear dis for eber and neber;
You cock up you fingers tell me 'take a sight,
De head ob my watch dog you sweetheart did
seber,
When you come home blind drunk ' at all' hours
toder night,
Take warnin' take warnin,J (no use you tears
fallin')
From fat Clarrymelia you eber shall part,
I' tan you ole hide till it's tough as bull leather,
I'll break off you love match, or break you black
heart.
DE WESTCHESTER NIGGA SONG
De Harlaem Rail Road Smashing Line,
Dey start at four an stop at nine,
An if you want to go to town,
De quickest way is to foot it down;
Sat'day noon we quit our work,
An go to de depo for New-York,
An dere we wait till de stars do shine,
For de Blow-shus-smo-shus-squinding-jine.
198
popular sowgs.
Den de agent tell you, O,
Guv us your money or you can't go,
We'll git to town 'bout seven or nine,
Wid de Slow-go-nogo-squinding-jine.
One time de Moshus had a fit,
He phizzed but would not budge a bit,
De Squingineer wid smutty mug,
Den ax'd me for my bacco plug,
I guv him a chaw an a smashin one,
De Moshus den he went like fun,
An let dis child to walk de track.
Ten miles ahead or ten miles back.
Den de agent tell you O, &Q.
My Cynthaline I went to see,
De Smoshus spile de fun for me,
I proach de house about raidnite,
An golly dar I seed a light.
Close to de winder den I creep,
An through de open bline I peep,
Dar Cynthaline was talkin sweet,
Wid ole Dan Tucker's niggar Pete,
Den de agent tell you O, &c.
My dander ris den quick as site,
I broke de sash an smash de lite,
I cleared de house, dey holler watch,
But dis chile dey nebber cotch.
Ole Harlaem Rail Road Smashin Line,
You may start when you're a mine,
4 n when I want to go to town,
take de road an foot it down.
199
POPULAR SONGS
£)en no agent tell me 0,
Guv us your money or you can't go,
I git to town an dar I shine
Wid a pruttier gal dan Cyntlialine.
DE NIGGA GINERAL.
0, don't you know your uncle Gabel ?
Ho, boys yere most dona
O, don't you know your uncle Gabel ?
O, he was a Nigga Gineral,
Ho, boys yere most done.
O, he was a Nigga Gineral, [Banjo.
He was the chief of the insurgents,
Ho, boys yere most done.
He was the chief of the insurgents,
Dey raised demselves down in Northampton,
Banjo.
0, de whites dey caught him and dey fought him,
Ho, boys yere most done.
O, de whites dey caught him and dey fought him,
Ho, boys yere most done.
O, de whites dey caught him and dey fought him,
Banjo.
Dey drove him to de gallows wid four gray horses
Ho, boys yere most done.
Dey drove him to de gallows wid four gray horses
Banjo.
O, Johnson Ben he drove de waggon.
Ho, boys yere most done.
0, Johnson Ben he drove de waggon, Banjo.
200
POPULAR SONGS
4nd dey hung him ami ac^ swung him,
Ho. boys yere most done.
And dey hung liim and dey swung him, Banjt
So diit were de last ob uncle Gabel,
Ho, boys yere most done.
So dat were de last ob uncle Gabel. Banjo
SUCH A DANCING OF THE NIGGERS
Prom Jamakey I come,
Where dey make de rum,
And beat upon de banjo drum;
Where de niggers oil a Saturday night,
Turn upon de heel left an' right—
An such a drinking ob de rum,
An a dancing ob de niggers—
Such a dancing ob de niggers,
I neber did see.
In de morning when dey rise to work,
De overseer come like Massa Turk,
Wid him dam black look, an ugly whip
Make Massa Peter jump an skip,
An such a making ob de rum,
An flogging ob de niggers.
An such a making, &c.
Den him grim him mouth, and roll his eyes,
An him whip sting like musquito flies,
An him say you dam black nigger run,
While him lay on de whip, an call it fun
An such a making, &c.
Den him call him slave, and away him go,
To assembly grand, an point him toe ;
POPULAR SONGS.
An Peter see him dance de ball,
Put out him foot, an down him fall.
An such a making, &c.
Now de time it come the moon all light, .
De overseer say him go home quite right
Den him call for Peter, give him stick,
An he bang him back, an call it slick—
An such a gallop on deroad.
An running ob de niggers, &c.
Den away him go o'er the water deep,
De dam overseer him fast asleep:
Dey look all round on their tip toes,
He ask what matter, den over him goes.
An such a laughing ob de niggers, &a
Den 'em stand an look down de ugly place,
De overseer lay smack on him face;
Dere him lay wid him nose quite flat.
An Peter say dat tit for tat—
An such a dancing ob de niggers, &c.
THE OLD PEE DEE.
In Souf Carolina whar I was born,
I husk de wood, an chop de corn,
A roasted ear to de house I bring,
Den de driver kotch me an I sing,
Ring de hoop, sound de horn,
I neber seen de like since I was born,
Way down in de counteree,
Four or five miles from de ole Pee Dee.
?0?.
POPULAR SONGS.
Dey take me out on tater hill,
An dey make me dance against my will,
Dey make me dance on sharp toed stones,
While de oder nigga's laughs and groans.
Ring de lioop,&o»
In Souf Carolina de nigga's grow^
If de white man 'will only plant his toe,
Den dey water de ground wid bacca smoke,
An out ob de dirt dar heads will poke.
Ring de hoop, &c.
Dora on de bank I spied a ship,
I .slide down on my unda lip,
I jumped aboard to cross de brink,
Lord, how it make dis nigga's gizzard wink.
Ring de hoop, Sic.
A water snake set too one day,
Long wid a nine eyed lampara,
Dey bit till all dar flesh was gone,
And dey pick dar teeth wid dar own jaw bona
Ring de hoop, &c.
WAY DOWN SOUTH IN THE ALA¬
BAMA.
Way down South in the Alabama,
Twar dare I left my ole aunt Hannah,
Ole Miss Squankum she war dare, _
She wanted a lock ob dis child's hair.
Chorus. Way down South in de Alabama^
Ou, ah! ou, ah!
Way down South in de Alabama,
Ou, ah! faddle um de day.
203
POPULAR SONGS.
Before I left we danced two reels,
De holler ob her foot war back ob her heels,
I played on de banjo till dey all begin to sweat,
Knocked on de jaw bone, an bust de claronet.
Way down South, &c.
Vinegar shoes and paper stockings,
Set to me Miss Polly Hopkins,
My Misses dead, an I'm a widder.
All de way from Ravin riber.
Way down South, &c.
Dandy Jim an ole Pete dare,
Two best men in human natur,
De puttiest ting in all creation,
Is a little yaller gal in de wild goose nation.
Way down South, &c
Blow away ye gentle breezes,
All among de cimnion treeses,
Dare I'll set long wid de muses,
Mendin' my ole boots an shoeses.
Way down South, &c.
DEN YOU'LL REMEMBER ME.
When older nigga's lips and heart,
Dar toads ob lub shall tell
In big words whose loud breaf exparts,
What makes dem feel so well;
You may perhaps jist at dat time,
Some recollections see,
Ob days when Ave de gum tree climb'd
Den you'll remember me.
204
POPULAR SONGS.
When darkies come de possum quite,
Dat crowded round like flies,
An: say it's only tal'ler white,
Dat rolls widin dem eyes ;
When holler hearts sound like a log,
Cut from de ole gum tree,
An' you sigh like de lone tree frog,
Den you'll remember me.
DE NIGGA GAL'S DREAM ; OR, I LOVED
COON STILL DE SAME.
I dreamed dat I libed in hotel halls,
Wid silvery pans at my side,
An ob all de buck niggas dat sarved in dem 'walla,
Dat I was de pet an' de pride.
I'd wittals ob all kinds, boiled an' roast,
An' dishes too many to name,
An' I also dreamed what charmed me most,
Dat I lobed Coon still de same.
I dreamed dat buck-niggas did sought my hand.
Each night I set on dar knee,
An' wid busses dat no poor wench could stand,
Dey Spouted dar hearts to me.
I dreamed dat one nigga hug me more close,
Brought sassage and oder roast game,
But I also dreamed what charmed me most,
Dat I lobed Coon still desame.
But I also dreamed, &c.
205
POPULAR SONGS.
DE BIG WHITE MOON AM SHININ
Oh, de big white moon am shinin, lub,
De big Tom cat is whinin, lub,
Come let us meet,
Up in Orange Street,
Our arms each other twinin, lub.
Den get up, de heabens am bright, my dear
Gist like your eye, so white, my dear,
For de best ob all way,
To be up before day,
Is to rise in de middle ob de night, my dear.
Now all de darkies am sleepin, lub,
An de watch from his box am peepin, lub,
While I watch for my load,
And de snake watch de toad,
Until you come down here creepin, lub.
DE OLE "VTRGINNY STATE.
A PARODY ON THE OLD GRANITE STATE
Oh. we come from de mountains,
Ob ole Virginny State, Repeat.
We're a band ob darkies,
From de heel unto de pate,
With a band ob music,
Now go singin through each state
We hab leff our darkey parents,
In ole Virginny State, Repeat.
Dey bid us good bye,
And we bid dem good bye-er;
206
POPULAR SONGS.
We am true colored singers,
We make de ole arth ring, sirs,
We hab ten oder brothers,
An' we've sisters one and toder, Repea*
Wid one fader and one moder i
In ole Yirginny State.
Wid all ob us togedder,
We're a smashen wooly tribe,
Oh, handsome bleatin black sheep,
An our history we sing.
Yes, while de air am ringin'
Wid our banjo and singin,
We de news to you am bringin,
From de ole Yirginny State.
We're de tribe ob Sambo,
An dar seberal names we'll sing.
Cudjoe, Banjo, Pompey, Caesar,
Rawbone, Jawbone, Chuffee, Sneezer,
Juba, Jumbo, Pete, an Egg-eye.
And Twolips am our names,
Sepeat. We're de sons ob Dinah,
Ob de tribe ob Sambo,
And now we touch de banjo.
And sing you our Virginia Song.
We're all real darkies,
Our hair an lips am curled,
And we hope to please you,
An sing it through the world
207
POPULAR SONGS.
DE OLD ROAST POSSUM.
PARODY ON £THE OLD ARM CHAIR.'
Oh! I lub it, I lub it, dat old roast possum,
Wid de trimmins ob de coon, and some green
where I cotch him,
'Tis a berry luscious dish when de appetite am
good,
And de ingin pudding wid it, den it am de best
ob food,
'Tis den I long to sit by de table wid my lub,
And watch de little niggas, while dey are • eat in
ob de grub.
Oh, 'tis den we are so happy, when we all set a
watching,
As de last piece go from de bones ob de possum.
And when we see de last ob de possum's remains,
Old Dina moves de dishes wid de greatest ob
pains;
And de time de room is cleared de niggas begin
to come,
When dey all prepare to dance and to hab a lit¬
tle fun;
Den old Caesar wid his banjo, goes and takes his
place,
And plays up dem old tunes, suited to de mgga's
taste,
Den we dance away till midnight, till de owls
begin to screech,
And de bullfrogs and de crickets, am woke up
from dar sleeps.
208
POPTTLAR SONGS.
NIGGA, PUT DOWN DAT JUG.
Niggar put down dat jug,
Touch not a single drop,
I hab gin him many a hug,
An dar you luff him stop;
'Twas dis ole nigga's hand,
Dat fust did place him dar,—
Dar niggar luff him stand,
Or else dis niggar swar.
Dat ole familiar jug,
Chock full of niggar rum,
Lord, how I lub to hug,
Because de drunk soon cum;
Dar nigga luff him lie,
Touch not a single taste,
Golly, I cum by'me bye,
Your back wid ropes I'le baste.
When but a nigger boy,
Hoeing massa's corn,
Lord, how it gub me joy,
To take from dat a horn;
I kiss him two, tree time,
And den I suck him dry,
Dat jug, he's none but mine,
So dar you luff him lie.
My mouth around him cling,
Close as de rum ole friend,
I kiss him an I sing,
Dat rum may nebber end
209
POPULAR SONGS.
Niggar, put down dat jug,
Touch not a single drop,
I hab gin him many a hug,
So dar you luff him stop.
ALABAMA JOE.
A nigger in Alabama lived,
ELy used ^ call him Joe,
Dis nigger lived to be so old,
His head war white as snow.
Dis nigger he war very rich,
The poor one liked him well,
Dey used to go to de Alabama house.
Some stories for to tell.
An strike de toe an heel, my lass,
An strike de heel and toe,
Miss Phillisy am a waiting
For your Alabama Joe.
This old nigger built a church,
A minister he hired,
Who staid with them about four years,
And quit cause he war tired.
Their minister good salary got,
As all these niggers know,
De money it war paid to him,
By Alabama Joe.
Dis made these niggers all feel bad,
To think he sarved them so,
But the one the shock fell worse upon
Was Alabama Joe.
210
POPULAR SONGS.
In a few years after dis,
De good old nigger died,
He left three niggers all he had,
And Miss Plullisy his bride.
His money he did will away
To Pliillisy his spouse,
Which caused great disturbance
At dis old nigger's house.
Miss Philliey had him buried,
All under an old tree,
And after dey had buried him,
De niggers had a spree.
A nigger in Virginia lived.
Who heard of old Joe's death,
And strait for Alabama steered,
And never stopped for breath,
He quick made love to Phillisy,
Who was a charming fair,
Her eyes were bright as diamonds,
And curly war her hair.
Dis nigger war a fisherman,
A fisherman ob old,
A fishing he did go one night,
And caught a beautiftil cold.
Dis nigger lived in great harmony,
And age did make him pine,
For ghe was only twenty-three,
And he war ninety-nine.
Dis story that I now relate,
As good old nigger said,
211
POPULAR SONGS.
He went one morning to their house,
And found dis couple dead.
Now Miss Phillisy she is dead,
Old Joe he went before,
Dar oder nigger hab gone too,
We shall see them no more,
GRAY GOOSE AND GANDER.
When I war a single feller,
I lived in peace and pleasure,
But now I am a married man,
I'm troubled out of measure.
Den look here, den look dare,
And look ober yander,
Don't you see dat old gray goose,
A smiling at de gander.
Ebery night when I go home,
She scolds, or it's a wonder,
And den she takes dat pewter mug,
And beats my head asunder.
My old wife war taken sick,
De pain ob death came on her,
Some did cry, but 1 did laugh,
To see de breff go from her.
Saturday night my old wife died,
Sunday she war buried,
Monday was my courting day,
On Tuesday I got married.
212
TOPTTLAP. SONGS.
My old wife has gone abroad,
Some evil spirit guide her,
I know she has not gone to church,
For de debil can't abide her.
WILD GOOSE NATION.
Here I am as you diskiver,
All de way from roaming river;
Here I cum, as you must know,
For to play de ole banjo.
!Oh, Lord gals, gib me chaw tobacco,
Oh, Lord fetch on de whiskey, makes a
man glad to get a little boosey.
Way down in de Indian nation,
Pretty little gals from de wild goose nation.
My wife's dead, an' I'm a widower,
All de way from roaring river.
Ole Massa Miller goes out a preachin,
'Bout de world coming to pieces,
An if you wan't to do what's right,
Go an join de Millerite.
Now, den, if dis should happen,
Den good bye to Arthur Tappan 3
But if it should fail,
We'll ride ole Miller on a rail.
Time draws near, it does by Job,
So now get ready your ascension robes j
Farewell, ladies, I must go, _
To git some strings for my ole banjo,
213
POPULAR SONGS.
Uncle Samuel, and Massa Jess,
Dey buy a bully cider press,
De hoops flew off, de barrel buss,
Ail blew 'em up in a thunder guss
OLE TATER PEELIN.
Oh, yaller Sam, turn'd a nigger hater,
Ah, ooah, oo !
An' his skin peeled off like boiled potatoe
Ah, oo ! ah, oo J
Den he went to work at gravel wheelin,
Ah, oo ! ah, oo!
An de folks all called him tater peelin,
Ah, oo ! ah, oo!
Den de nigga's on him turn'd dar back,
Ah, oo ! ah, oo !
Kase he wasn't yellow, blue, nor black,
Ah, oo ! ah, oo !
He set all de hogs wid sorrow squealin,
Ah, oo! ah, oo!
Kase dey couldn't eat sich tater peelin.
Ah, oo ! ah, oo!
De white folks shunned him like squint eyed
gander,
Ah, oo! ah, oo !
Kase he look like a toad wid de yaller jander,
Ah, oo! ah, oo!
But de wild hogs eat his flesh for swill,
Ah, oo ! ah, oo!
An' dey planted his bones in a tater-hill,
Ah, oo! ah, oo!
214
POPULAR SONGS.
DE OLE DAN TUCKER.
I come to town de udder niglit,
I hear de noise, den saw de sight,
De watchman dey were runnin roun,
Crying, ole Dan Tucker's come to town,
Git out ob de way! Banjo.
Git out ob de way !
Git out ob de way, ole Dan Tucker,
Vou're too late to come to your supper.
Tucker is a nice ole man,
He used to ride our Darby ram.
He sent him whizzing down de hill,
If he hadn't got up—he'd laid dar still.
Git out ob de way, &c.
Sheep an de hog walkin in de paster,
Sheep sez, "hog, can't ye go a little faster V
Hush! hush, honey ! hear de wolf howlin!
Ah, ah, de lawd—ole bull dog growlin.
Git out ob de way, &c.
Jay-bird in de martin's nest,
To sabe he soul he got no rest,
Ole Tucker run in de fox's den,
Out come de young ones—nine or ten.
Git out ob de way, &c.
Tucker on de wood pile—can't count 1 ebb en,
But in a fedder bed—him gwine to hebben,
His nose so flat, lvis face so full,
De top ob his head like a bag ob wool.
Git out ob de way, &c.
2l5
POPULAR SONGS.
Tucker went round hickory steeple^
Dar he met some colored people,
Some was black, an some was blacker,
Some was de color ob brown tobackur.
Git out ob de way, &a
High-hold on de holler tree,
He poke his bill in for to see,
De lizard cotch 'em by de snout.
He call ole Dan Tucker to pull 'im out.
Git out ob de way, &C.
Tucker lie had cash a plenty,
Dressed to death,—his ole trunk empty,
To kiss de gals he thought was useless,
'Cept he kissed wid a sway-back looseness.
Git out ob de way, &c.
Here's my razor in good order,
Mognum-bonum—jis hab bought 7er,
Sheep shell de oats, ole Tucker shell de corn,
Pll shabe you all when de water gits warm.
Git out ob de way, &c.
I went to meetin de udder day,
To hear ole Tucker preach and pray,
Dey all got drunk but me alone,
I made ole Tucker,—walk jaw bone,
Git out ob de way, Banjo.
Git out ob de way,
€$it out ob de way you hardened sinner,
You're too late to come to your dinner.
216
POPULAE SONGS.
DE CLAM NIGGA'S SERENADE.
De moon was grinnin silva 'white,
De eye no watch could view,
When Cuffee step in de dark night,
De jig fair Dinah know,
At midnight hour, through all de shower,
He whistled soft, ole Pompey bearin'
Wid dy own true Cuffee fly,
His lubly clam an tater sharin.
Wbstle.—Woo, wheugh ! lub, 'tis I,
Make haste for fast I'se waiten,
Woo, wheugh ! lub, 'tis I,
Wid dy own true nigga fly.
Den mizzle lub, oh, Dinah, fair,
'Foremornin wink his eye,
Dy Cuffee calls cum down de stair,
Like de puss cat so sly.
In time ob cross, my clam cart hoss,
Dat champs his tusk dy hold back scoldin,
Shall safely walk you off,
His massa's heart an libber holden.
Woo, wheugh ! lub, 'tis I.
PHILISEE CHARCOAL.
De night am come, an' so am I,
Come you sweet Philisee,
De folks am sleepin' fast, up high.
Den love come down to me.
217
POPULAR SONGS.
From labor now I fly to love,
Den let de banjo's tune,
Dy gentle heart unto me move,
As moonlight moves de coon.
De night am come, an' so am I
Come you sweet Philisee,
De folks am sleepin' fast, up high.
An' snorin' merrily.
Come lub, an' 'neath the holler tree,
In dy sweet ears I'll pour,
How flist dy beauty ravished me,
While scrubben ob de floor ;
My heart it fluttered like a bass,
Just pulled up from de sea,
An' one sweet buss did bind it fast,
Forever lub to thee.
De night am come, &c.
Come Philisee. dis am de hour,
When all true lovers meet,
To tase true lub, an' music's power,
Den possum flesh more sweet;
Come den, an' wid one chase embrace,
Unite dy soul to mine,
An' lub shall make earth's barren wase.
Green as a tater vine.
De night am come, an' so am I,
Come you sweet Philisee,
De folks am sleepin' fast, up high,
An' snorin' merrily.
218
POPULAR SONGS.
DE YALLER CORN.
At brake ob day de mornin' wakes,
And Phoebus lights his fire,
De nigger off de bed clothes shakes,
An' wipes off de parspire;
De drivers ushers darkies in,
To de labors ob de morn,
An' Dinah at de house begins
To boil de yaller corn.
Chorus. De yaller corn, de yaller, yaller corn!
Piano softs. De yaller corn, de yaller, yaller coral
An' Dinah, &c
De roosters crow, de niggers sing,
An' merrily work away,
Dey beg de sun walk fast, and bring
De dinner time ob day;
Oh, den how quick dey lift dar shin,
When Dinah blows de horn,
An' all dar teeth like ivory grin,
To grind de yaller corn!
Chorus. De yaller corn, de yaller, yaller corn'
Piano softs. De valler corn, de yaller, yaller cornJ
An' all, &c.
Oh. Dinah am a kitchen sylph,
A rose-bud in a cloud,
Her presence makes de corn more sweet,
Wid odours rich and loud ;
Her teeth am like its brightest grains,
When off de husk is torn.
At ebery grin my teeth begin
To grind de yaller corn.
219
POPULAR SONGS.
Chorus. De yaller corn, de yaller, yaller corn
Piano softe. De yaller corn,de yaller, yaller corn
At ebery grin our teeth begin
To grind de yaller corn!
DE SINGIN' NIGGER OB OHIO
Come people listen to de story,
Ob a singin' nigger tall and young,
Well known in all his chauntin' glory,
Throughout ebery state his banjo rung
In steamboat, rail-car, farm or village,
His music charmed all ears wid joy,
'Mong wenches, hearts he made great pillage,
For he was a tall buck nigger boy.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, its all de go!
Was dis singin' nigger ob Ohio.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, a tall young beau,
Was dis singin' nigger ob Ohio. ,
Oh, what a go, what a go, what a go!
Was dis singin' nigger ob Ohio!
Oft ladies on dar rich plantations,
Would listen to dis black Apollo's lay,
An' charmed by his vocal sinivations,
Dark virgins tried to slope wid him away
With his teeth like white corn grinning,
An' his white eyes rolling wide,
Some merry song to de banjo spinning,
Oh! how de colored virgins sighed.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, it's all de go, &<%
220
POPULAR SONGS.
Bat like a pea-rooster in splendor.
He left Ohio one dark night,
/U' poor she darkies' hearts so tender,
Smashed into banjo strings at de sad eight ;
But don't blame his absquatulation,
It am a common thing ob late,
1 jailer gal from a foreign nation,
Made him lord ob her estate.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, its all de go, &c.
GOIN OBER DE MOUNTAIN.
A nigga come from Arkansas,
Bone and Banjo Symphony
De biggest fool I eber saw,
Reel o'er de mountain, love,
I'm gwine for to leab you,
Reel o'er de mountain, love,
Don't let my partin grieve you!
At mornin when dis nigger rose,
Rum turn dum, dum rum turn de,
He put his mittens on his toes,
Rum turn dum,
Reel o'er de mountain, &c.
Dig nigga went to feed de sheep,
Rum turn dum,
He'gib 'em green tobacco leaf,
Rum turn dum.
Oh, reel o'er de mountain, &c.
221
POPULAR SONGS
He went some water for to git,
Rum turn dum,
And carried it in a corn basket,
Rum turn dum,
Reel o'er de mountains, &c.
He went to shell corn in de shed,
Rum turn dum,
He shell'd Ms shins all bare instead,
Rum turn dum,
Reel o'er the mountain, &c.
He went to feed de hoss at de barn,
Rum turn dum,
He put himself in the trough for corn,
Rum turn dum,
Reel o'er the mountain, &c.
Every day when Sunday come,
Rum turn dum,
He combed his hair with a hoss jaw bone.
Rum turn dum,
Reel o'er the mountain, &c.
He went to split some oven wood,
Rum turn dum,
And he split himself up clar to foot,
Rum turn dum,
Reel o'er de mountain, love,
I'm gwan for to leave you,
Reel o'er de mountain, love.
Don't let my partin grieb you.
222
POPirLAK SONGS
WHO DARE?
Cum all ye jolly niggas, to you de truf I tell, ah,
Neber lib wid white folks, dey lieber use you
well, ah.
Cold frosty mornin' nigga bery good, ah.,
Wid he axe on he shoulder, he go to cut de
wood, ah.
Dingee I otten dotten, ballio otten dotten,
Dingee I otten, WHO DARE ?
Cum home to breakfast, get somethin to eat, ah!
An dey set before him, a little stinkin meat, ah!
Den at noontide cum. he cum home to dine, ah!
An dey take him in de corn field, an gib him
sweet thirty-nine, ah!
Dingee, &c.
Den de nite cum on, an dey cum home to sup¬
per, ah!
An dey knock down, and break down, an hop
ober Juber, ah!
Den a little cold pancake, an a little hog fat, ah!
An dey grumble like de debil, if you eat too
much of dat, ah!
Dingee, &c.
Den de massa tell him for to go to bed, ah !
He up wid a broom stick, and crack him ober de
hed, ah!
Den dey go up stairs, an he take off he shoe, ah!
An he cut out de back door, like oder niggas
do, ah! _ .
Dingee, &C.
223
POPULAR. SONGS
Go down to momy Dinah's, what you think wi
do, ah!
We play upon de banjo, and dance a jig about
ah !
Den I met Miss Fillacy, corna ob de lane, ah!
I asked her aint you gwoin for to play de game
ah!
Dingee, &c.
Den in six months time, oh, Fillacy get bigger,
ah!
An in three months arter dat, den dere comes a
little nigga, ah!
De chickey chimey born, an de massa say ha
mine, ah!
An den for dat I get anoder thirty-nine, ah.
Dingee, &c.
Den de white man cum for to take away my
wife, ah!
Den I up an I stick him. wid a big J ack knife, ahl
Six o'clock in de mornin, massa cum to call him,
ah!
rle cotch'd him by de wool, lor golly how h«
maul him, ah!
Dingee, &c.
Den oh, poor nigga, I sorry for your color, ah
Kit you on de back bone, you sound like a dol¬
lar, ah!
Cold frosty mornin, nigga bery good, ah!
Wid he axe on he shoulder, he go to cut dc
wood, ah!
Dingee,
224
POPULAR "ONGS.
GIT ALONG JOHN.
All de way from Norf Carolina,
For to see my ole aunt Dinah,
Says I ole lady how's the goose,
Jay bird jump on de mountain rooze,
Den git along John, oh, git along John,
Den git along John, de fifer's son,
Aint you mighty glad your works most doDQ
Behind de hen house on my knee,
Tinks I hear de chicken sneeze,
Turkey playin cards on de punkin vine,
Goose chaw backer and duck drink wine.
Milk in de dairy nine days old,-
Rat and skipper getting mighty bold,
Long tail rat in a pail ob souse,
Jes come down from de white folk's house.
A Virginny nigger raised a hog,
Make his canoe out ob de log,
He put canoe into de water,
Go your death, I see your daughter.
I had'nt seen her half a day,
Tell my missus I did say,
Shy at fast, but soon got larking,
Virginny gals am deth at sparking.
Master sent me out a singing, _
Dat war de fust ob my beginning,
Shake de double cimmon quiver,
Burst de banjo all to sliiver.
225
POPTTLAF SONGS.
Way down souf on de beaver creek,
De nigger grows 'bout ten feet,
Dey go to bed wid all dar clothes on,
Dere legs hang out for chickens to roost on.
.Nigger git up 'bout half dead,
Wid hundred weight chicken on his leg,
An dey start off for de barn,
Ole cock crows, de young ones larn.
DE JAW BOTfe.
De jaw bone hung in de kitchen hall,
De sea bass scales shine on de ole wall
Ole Possum's brack frens lub fun and were gay,
An dey kick up de debil on a holiday;
Ole Possum he see wid a fader's pride,
His own colored child young Bowshin's bride/
An de white ob her brack eye seem'd to be,
De new moon for dat company!
O ! de ole jaw bone!
O! de ole sea bass!
I've eat all the homminy now she cried,
Go put up de banjo, I'll hide, I'll hide,
And you lubly Bowshin shall fast me trace,
Where I hide myself from your grumbling fape,
She run out of de kitchen, de hunt began,
To find de she nig if any of dem can,
Young Bowshin cried, oh, where bout you hide^
I can't do widout you my own brack bride!
0 ! de ole jaw bone, &c.
226
POPULAR SONGS.
Dey hunt her dat night and dey hunt hemes day,
An dey hunt her all round when a week pass
away.
In de short an de long an de big hollow log,
Young Bowshin hunt wildly wid five ob de dog,
An whole year go by an his grief at lust,
Was tole as a color1 d tale long past,
When Bowshin come bout de young nigs cried,
See de ole man sob for he tender bride !
0 ! de ole jaw bone, &c
At last an ole log covered wid brush,
Was found in a swamp, dey all made a rush,
An de tapering form lay mouldering dare,
In de brack-snake skin of de lady fair!
0, hard was her fate, like a sportive frog
She hide from her lub in a hollow log;
De brush was trown ober. an her color'd bloom
All fade away in dat ole log toom!
O de ole jaw bone, &c.
GOOD MORNING- LADIES ALL.
Down in ole Wurginny,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
A gun dat massa gib me,
To go an shoot de coon.
Wid a hida ka dink, ah, ah! Oh, Roley, Boley,
Wid a hida ka dink, who dare ? good morning la¬
dies all.
Den I take my ole rifle,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
' 227
POPULAR SONGS.
Get powder for a trifle,
And's gwan to shoot de coon
Wid a hida, &c.
Den I saw de coon a swingin,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
Den I cocked my gun an bring him,
An down cum Mister Coon.
Wid his hida, &a
He lodged upon a bramble,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
Den I begin to scrample,
To get him down de tree.
Wid his hida, &c.
He dead or very nearly,
Oh Roley, Boley,
I tink I love him clearly,
Cause he make such damn good soup,
Wid his hida, &c.
After dat I leabe Wurginny,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
An go to ole Kentucky,
On my way to New Orleans.
Wid a hida, &c
Den I got a wife on Sunday,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
My son cum down a Monday
An I neber seed a finer.
Wid his hida, &C.
Den I sen my son to college,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
223
POrULAIt SONGS.
Whar he got his sense an knowledge,
An growed up to a man.
Wid his hida, &c.
His learning cost me a dollar,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
An now he is a lawyer,
An soon will be a judge.
Wid his hida, &c.
So I gwan away to-morrow,
Oh, Roley, Boley,
Oh, people aint you sorry,
As I leabe Louisiany.
Wid a hida, &c.
WHO'S DAT NIGGA DAR A PEEPIN' ?
Oh, here I cum jist fur to sing,
?Bout dis an dat, and de oder ting;
Oh, I am gwaine for to tell you all,
How I rose in lub, and how I did fall.
Spoken. But firs ob all, fore I press myself on
ie kashin I should like to know—
Who's dat nigga dar a peepin' ?
Who's dat nigga dat I see?
Who's dat nigga dardat's peepin'?
Say, who's dat nigga dat I see.
Oh, I fell in lub wid Miss Dinah Crow,
And her teeth was like de clar grit snow;
And her eyes like dem beams dat shine from da
moon,
Sharper den de teef ob de possum or de koon,
229
POPULAR SONGS.
Spoken. Yes, you see dis nigga first exprised
herself by seeing her promulgating herself up
and down Broadway, persipitating dat foot ob
hep's up so high dat when it dropt it war death
to all creepin insects, and den wid de poet I
Bclaimed—
Who's dat nigga dar a peepin' ? &c.
Oh, I went dar one ebening kording to rule,
And dar I was exprised to see a nigga squatting
upon de stool;
Dar was Massa Zip Coon squatting down by de
fire,
Singing dat song ob 1 Ole Vurginny neber tire.'
Spoken. Yes, indeed, dare de nigga was, dares
no 'sception in dat, and as soon as dis nigga lit
his eye 'pon him, dare was quite a constorvation
'mongst us niggas, kase I axed Dinah if she
would jist 'spress herself openly 'pon de raison
and inform dis nigga—
Who's dat nigga dar a peepin' ? &c.
Oh, den us niggas you ort for to see,
Dar was me hugging him, and he was hugging
me,
Oh, he bite'me 'pon de arm and tore my close,
Ifotch him a lick, and broke Miss Dinah's nose.
Spoken. Den, says T, jist look at here Misr
Dinah, dat's de fects ob your habbin more dan
one nigga dressing himself to you at one time,
and now den, Miss Dinah, I shall leave you for
de present; but next time I sees any gemmen oh
230
POPULAR SONGS.
kulor sept myself, I shant be under de discam-
greeable necessity ob axing you—
Who's dat nigga dar a peepin'! &c.
OL de next morning dey took dem fore de mare,
Who taught dey had not acted fair,
So he sent dem down jist for thirty days apiece,
For kickin up a row, and brakin de police.
Spoken. Oh, Lord, lova, loya, lova, ha, ha!
Hush houne, hush. De fus ting I knew in de
norning, dere Massa Zip was poking he ugly
mug out ob Black Maria, and den you ort to
tear dis child fling out to him, and ax—
Who's dat nigga dar a peepin' ? &a
Now ladies an gemmen my song is sung,
And I hope you all hab sum fun,
If you want to hear a song dat will keep you
from sleepin,
Hear 'Who dat nigga dar dat's peepin' V
Spoken. Yes, indeed ; dares so much percipa-
tion in it, that it prohxlates de promulgation ob
all oder sentimations, and the only spre^jion dat
pou hear is—
Who's dat nigga dar a peepin' ? &c.
JUMBO JUM.
Dh, listen, to me, Rosa. Jumbo Jum,
flab cum to amoose oo wid him turn turn turn 1
Oh, Rose—de coal black Rose,
Ebery night and morning do I bless dat Rose'!
23]
POPULAR SONGS.
Dat Sambo, I'm sure, nothing near so black as 1,
Though he tink he berry pretty in him own ogll
eye,
Oh, Rose—de real black Rose
How Jumbo lub oo dere's no one knows.
Sambo, and Cuffee, bery mean and low,
And get their libing by sing Jim Crow,
Oh, Rose—de coal black Rose !
1 wish I may be wild if I don't lub Rose !
Your heart in a glow dey try to setta,
Dey play de fiddle veil, but de fool much better,
Oh, Rose—prattee missee Rose !
Jum just de ting for de coal black Rose!
Dey tink dey bery cleber de fiddle to handle.
Can see as well in de dark as a blind man wi4 a
candle,
Oh, Rose—prattee nigger Rose,
I wish I may be whip'd if I don't lub Rose.
If oo'll be my chum chum de shin of pork ve'll
"oast—
Catch that Sambo, and dat Cuffee, and cut 'em
up for toast,
Oh, Rose—de lubly Rose,
I wish I may be flog if I don't lub Rose.
I'll promise oo sail hab some piccanniny dears—
A dance, and a song, and £ Sich a gittin up Stairs
Oh, Rose—de pure black Rose,
I wish I may be starve if I dont lub Rose.
I see by dat blush, Rose, on oo cheek,
Oo'll be Missee Jum—iss, lub, next week,
232
POPULAR SONOS.
Oh, Rose, Jumbo's nigger Rose,
Jumbo will be liappy wid him cnum chum Rose I
MUNGO WERRY MUCH GLAD.
Mungo werry much glad,
Massa gone to walkee,
And him daughter, Mad,
Of young captain, talkee—
Both quite full of love,
Him come to see rnissee,
Dey wish for turtle dove,
Den 'em play at kisses.
Chick, chick, chick, chick, chick,
Massa him rat smell O,
Mungo so love sick,
So him neber tell O.
One day, captain come,
At the door he knockee,
And him look so rum,
'Cause the door was lockee;
Massa gone to Pope
To pray for him damn sin, O !
So me give captain rope,
And haul him through de window.
Chick, &c.
Captain kiss and hug
Missee, for to win her,
Snug as bug in rug,
Him do stop to dinner—
Oh, how dem did shine,
When we wet our throttles,
233
POPULAR SONGS.
Wid ole massa's 'wine,
Bottles after bottles. ,
Chick, &o
Den young captain tip,
Mungo him some money,
And kiss missee's lip.
Mungo feel so funny—
We so drunk can't see,
One anoder lookee,
Captain fight wid me,
And I pitch into cookee.
Chick, &c.
Den old massa sneak,
Home, and door unlockee,
Him spy Captain Squeak,
And shake him old blockee—
Wid de blunderbuss,
In de room him toddle
Me take looking glass,
And crack it o'er him noddle,
Chick, &c
Me tie massa tight,
To de stairs, poor bloakee,
Den in chaise dat night,
We all did elopee—
Drunk as fiddler's bitch,
Was de post boy wid us,
So him in damn ditch,
Spilt us all and hid us.
Chick, &c.
234
POPULAR SONGS.
Dere we stick all night,
Bawling out blue murder,
Through, dls drunken plight,
We could get no furder,
We got sober soon,
Cookee mud was sucking,
Cause we bolt de moon—
Oh, cry, we got foul-ducking.
Chick, &c.
At daylight in a cart,
We each oder cleanee,
Den we make a start,
Off to Gretna Greenee—
Captain jump de broom,
Wid young missee Suckey,
Mungo in him bloom,
Will throw himself at cookee.
Chick, &c.
WE LIVE ON DE BANKS OB DE OHIO
We live on de banks ob de Ohio,
Tra la la, tra la la la.
Whar de mighty waters do rapidly flow,
And de steamboat streak it along.
We lire on de banks ob de Ohio,
Ohio, Ohio,
We lib on de banks ob de Ohio,
Ohio, Ohio.
Droop not darkies as we go,
Tra la la. tra la la la.
235
POPULAR SONGS
Back to de banks ob de Ohio,
To raise de baeco and corn, &c.
We live on de banks ob de Ohio.
In a very short time we all must go,
Tra la la, tra la la la.
To de sweet land ob de Ohio,
Whar de niggas and gals do dwell, &c.
We live on de banks ob de Ohio.
Old massa to us darkies am good,
Tra la la, tra la la la.
For he gibs us our clothes and he gibs us on
food,
And we merrily work for him, &c.
And we live on de banks obde Ohio.
GINGER BLUE.
My name is ginger blue,
And I tell you mighty true,
Dat I cum from de Tennessee mountains.
Oli. my paragraph is short,
And my story it is true,
As de water dat runs from de fountains.
De first word I said
When I raised up my head,
Was when I worked 'pon de plantation.
It was walk chalk, Ginger Blue,
Get ober, double trouble.
Ole Yirginny neber tire.
Clem Williams on? mght
Was gwan to gib a ball,
2'JG
POPULAR SONGS.
To de nigga wot works 'pon de plantation
He axed me to come
For to liab a little fun,
|7id de 11 igga wenches ob de inhabitation.
De gals looked well,
My eyes what a smell,
Flien de niggas got a gwanin in de dance.
Walk chalk,'Ginger Blue,
Git ober double trouble.
Ole Yirginny neber tire.
Spoken. I golly, I tell you wot, dare was one
nigga wench who had such tarnel big feet dat
ffen she gan to dance, dey had to open de back
door, to let her heels go down into de cellar
Whew!
As I was gwan down town,
De other day,
And tinking about nothing in particular,
I come across a nigger,
Wat cut a mighty figger,
I golly you tink he was a tickler.
He swelled in de middle,
And spread at de heel,
But he couldn't come de busterations science,
Ob walk chalk, Ginger Blue, &c.
De niggas in dis place,
Count on dere handsome face,
But dey can't trick de niggas in Virginny.
Dar noses are too flat,
And dere wool is curled too much,'
Like the deck of de ship from ole Guinea.
POPULAR SONGS.
Dey put dere feet in small shoes
But it's all no use,
For de toes "will push up de nigga's heel,
When they walk chalk, Ginger Blue, &c.
CROW MEDLEY.
Old massa libs in Tennessee,
De brackest, best ob men;
But when he gets upon a spree,
De debbil's in him den.
Get out of the way, old Dan Tucker,
You're too late to come to your supper.
When I go out to promenade,
I look so fine and gay,
I hab to take my dog along.
To keep de gals away.
My old Massa told me so,
The best looking nigger in the country 0,
I looked in the glass and found it s<~>,
Just as massa told me O.
My bosom am so full ob lub,
Dis nigga cannot rest;
And so I'll bid you all good-bye,
And trabbel to de west.
Re, ro, my true love,
Den come along, my darling;
Fare you well, Miss Dinah gal,
I'm going ober de mountain.
De bat beats all de feathered race
Dat fly about at night;
23S
POPULAR SONGS.
You pull a feather from his tail,
I guess you get a bite!
O look, look here !
O look, look whar ?
Look way over yander;
Don't you see the old grey goose
Smiling at the gander.
0 talk about your Charleston gals,
Your gals ob Tennessee ;
Ob all de gals both far and near,
• De Bowery gals for me.
Den de Bowery gals will come out to-night,
Will you come out to-night,
Will you come out to-night,
0 de Bowery gals will come out to-night,
And dance by the light ob de moon.
De only gal I ebber lub'd
Was cut off in her bloom;
A darkey cut her off from me,
And left me to my doom.
O poor Lucy Neale!
O poor Lucy Neale !
If I had her in my arms,
How happy I should feel.
De tom-cat sat upon de wall,
De owl sat in de tree;
1 heard a hoot, I heard a squall,
And told aunt Sally to see.
Sally, Sally, O my old aunt Sally !
Ra, re, ri, ro, round de corner, Sally!
239
POPULAR SONGS
In Boston dey hab pretty gals,
In Brooklyn too I see;
But wid de gals ob New-York town,
Dey cannot come to tea.
New-York gals have pretty faces,
Dressed to death and trimmed with laces,
Ankles small, waists so slender,
Ah, ah, ah, good bye, John.
De sun's gwoing down behind de hill,
De wind is mild and calm,
De chuck-will's widow says her prayers,
And de bull-frog sings a psalm.
O get along home, my yaller gals,
De ebening sun's declining;
O get along home, my yaller gals,
For de dew on de grass am shining.
De moonbeam sits upon de sill,
De mice dance on de floor;
So play us up dat same old tune,
De tune you played before.
So walk, jaw-bone Jinney come along,
In come Jinney with the bootees on.
We had a ball upon de raff—
De yaller gals war dar;
When morning come, we found ourse'fs,
De debbil liimse'f knows whar!
Hi-ho, de boatman row,
Floating down the ribber On de Ohio!
Dance, boatman, dance!
Dance, boatman, dance!
We'll danco all night till broad daylight,
And go home with the gals in the morning
'240
POPULAR SONGS
OLD JOE.
Old Joe he stood at-de garden gate,
Banjo symphony.
He couldn't git in, he came too late;
Banjo symphony.
You kick my dog, Fll kick your cat,
Banjo symphony.
Mind old Joe what you am at. •
Banjo symphony.
Old Joe! old Joe!
Old Joe kicking up behind and before,
Yaller gal kicking up behind old Joe.
Den old Joe did gib me some slack,
I took a stick and broke his back.
Den dat old Joe he went rite home,
Wid a broken back and a crooked shin bone.
Old Joe, &a
Den old Joe went rite up to bed,
He haul'd de clothes up ober his head,
For when he snored de childrens run,
Dey 'tought for sure de debbil hab cum.
Old Joe, &c.
One night when old Joe Cole cum home,
He comb he wool wid a curry comb,
Old Joe he got him mity fine clothes,
But whar he got 'em nobody knows.
Old Joe, &a
Joe had a fight wid my old dad,
He butt so hard he feel mighty bad,
241
POPULAR SONGS.
Said he Old Dad jis look at me,
I'll leave dis world and climb a tree.
Old Joe, &c.
DE BANKS OB DE DELAWARE.
When de moon shines bright on an autumn
night,
An' de owl'? have left dere nest,
Dis nigger takes his gun to fight,
De muskrat dat prowls in de west,
In my old skiff I takes my .flight,
For nothing do I care,
When de moon shines bright on an autumn
night,
On de banks ob de Delaware.
When de black snake coils round de elder flower
Dat grows in de meadow so fine,
>Tis den I'd make de coons look sour,
Wid dat old gun ob mine
I'd rise before demorn got up,
For de coon's 'tis much I care,
An awa' I run—wid my old gun,
To de banks ob de Delaware.
THE HUT WHERE WE LIVED.
In the hut where we lived,
Whar we worked at the corn,
We all were gay, when it once broke day,
On old Maryland shore then off and away,
We would go, we would go, we would go
242
POPULAR SONGS.
Our master was kind—our mistress was good,
If we'd work wMle Phoebus did shine.
And when night-again returned,
We would go to de woods,
To hunt de coon and possum so fine.
In the hut, &c.
That hut is now tore down,
And wheat grows on the spot,
Where once it stood, down in the woods,
And the coons runs no more over Maryland
shore,
We come away, we come away, we come
away,
In the hut, &c.
We used to see de crow, and de old hooty owl,
And the squirrel used to play in the tree,
Cut since we left the place, there no more to
show our face,
How very, very happy, we can be.
In the hut, &c.
GAILY DE NIGGAS DANCE,
tlaily de niggas dance,
On de sand, on de sand,
Come all dat have a chance,
And join de darkey band.
Sound, sound de violin,
Show turn in de ole banjo,
Let de triangle ring,
Wid de bones an ae ole tambo.
243
POPULAR SONGS.
When de sound does rise at de broke ob day,
All in de morn, all in de morn.
To de fields dey all walk awayf
To hoe de yaller corn.
De niggas have a happy life,
Always gay, always gay,
Troubled with no care, no strife,
But merrily work all day.
When de work's all done and de day is ober,
Dey all trots in, dey all trots in,
De niggers tink demielves in clover,
Wid dere hoe cake and de gin.
Dey hands de banjo from de wall,
And touch de string, and touch de string,
Dey join in de chorus one and all,
And so merrilv dey sing.
NEW OH! HUSH!
I left Baltimore the other morning,
Just about the break of day
With the queerest set of passengers,
For Phil-ma-del-phia.
Oh! Hush!
A fellow stept up to the Captain,
Just as the boat got under way.
Captain, how much further is it
To Phil-ma-del-phia.
A fellow from the Indies,-
Knowed every thing it seems,
POPULAR SONGS.
He undertook to tell a lady,
How they went by steam.
Baltimore has a Monument,
Made of marble stone,
Erected to the memory,
Of General Washington.
THE DEPARTED NIGGAS
Oh, white folks I'll revibe to you,
Dem good old songs dat once was new,
De fust I'll name was all de go,
'Bout de dancing nigga dey call Jim Crow
Peace go wid dem niggas, &o.
De next was a nigga ob de greatest note,
Wid a big white hat and a long tail coat,
Big seals from his pocket did hang down,
From dat science nigga dey call Jim Brown.
Peace go wid dem niggas, &o
But de greatest one in the sable crowd,
Was a rich old man and dey called him proud,
He made great Norway Ole Bull stutter,
For a champion ob de string was old Dan Tucker
Peace go wid dem niggas, &c.
De handsomest nigga I eber did know,
Cum from old Carolina, as black as a crow,
He was a fancy child, an bound to shine,
Dis was Dandy Jim from de Caroline.
Peace go wid dem niggas, &c.
245
rOPUIAR SONGS.
Peace to dose niggas dat's gone to rest,
Dey'd had dar day and done dar best,
But when I tink it makes me sad,
For I feel de loss ob My Old Dad.
Peace go wid dem niggas, &c.
CHOKUS.
Peace go wid dem niggas,
Peace go wid dem niggas,
Peace go wid dem niggas,
For dey am dead and gone.
THE ROSE OF OLD VERGINA.
De happiest niggers you will find,
Are down in old Yergina clime,
Dey live on corn and porcupines,
Down in old Yergina.
CHORUS
O, lubly rof3,
Rose in' id Vergina,
Sweeter den de rose dat grows,
Am my rose in old Vergina.
Eb'ry night at de close ob day,
On de riber bank so gay,
Wid our music dare we play,
De rose in old Vergina.
0 lubly rose, &c.
We dance and sing away all night,
By. de bright moon's silvery light,
246
POPULAR SONGS.
We keep it up till broad day-light)
Down in old Vergina.
O, lubly rose, "ko.
I cannot tell the reason why.
My heart heaves many a sigh,
When I think on times gone by
Down in old Vergina.
O, lubly rose, &c.
Wid old age my hairs am grey,
I lay de old banjo away,
No more dis sweet tune to play,
, Down in old Vergina.
O, lubly rose, &a
When from dis world I am gone,
No odder nigger shall sing dis song,
Wid my old banjo I'll tote it 'long,
To remember old Vergina.
O, lubly rose,
Rose ob ole Vergina,
Sweeter dan de rose dat grows,
Am my rose ob ole Vergina.
NIGGER POMPEY.
I'm de nigger up to fun,
An down to all dat's handy—
Jim Crow I scorn—Zip Coon I beat,
Yankee doodle dandy.
Yankee doodle, ha, ha, ha!
Spirits, gin, and brandy-
Is what de nigger Pompey drink-
Yankee doodle dandy.
247
POPULAR SONGS.
Gumbo Cluff is noting 'tall,
When Pompey's on de boards, sir,
For wid such stuff dey'll not be cheat,
When I can be encored, sir..
Yankee doodle, &a
I'm de nigger's got de grin,
De re?l lip o'red, sirs—
Here's de white right in my eye,
An here's de woolly head, sirs.
Yankee doodle, &&
Dere's de hollow in de ground,
And here's de rump behind, sirs,
And here's de heel portudin back,
And tings of ebery kind, sirs.
Yankee doodle, &c.
Ya, I'm chums wid all de gals,
My legs are, oh, so handy,
And all de fellows I cut out-
Yankee doodle dandy.
Yankee doodle, &c.
I'm not to be resisted now,
I'm cock ob de walk, sirs-
I'm gwaine—but I will come back,
And linger we will talk, sirs.
Yankee doodle, &e.
And now, good folks, good bye,
I gwaine to fix me finer—
1 soon come back, and den I sing,
All about Miss Dinah !
Yankee doodle, &c.
248
CONTENTS.
Away to the Old Bee Tree 49
Agoing Along Down, - - - - 58
Am I not fond of Soft Corn, - 116
At night when Nigga's work is done - 159
A life by the galley fire, - 181
A darkey band and a darkey crew - - 186
A hoo! A hoo! 194
Alabama Joe ------ 210
Bee Gum ------ 45
Bull-gine - - - - - * 81
Black and White Niggas - 113
Boot Black Chorus - - - - - 117
Black Pink 121
Blue Tailed Fly 123
Bress dat lubly Yaller Gal - 132
Buffalo Gals ------ 133
Behind de Ole Gum Tree - - - 154
Black Eyed Susyanna - 172
Boatman's Dance - - - -176
Back Action Spring - 195
Cornfield Green - - - 12
Carlina - -- -- -- -*"7
ii CONTENTS.
Cornfield Chorus - - - . 23
Come Day—Go Day - - - - 97
Charleston Gals ----- 106
Cuffee's Do-it ----- 109
Clar de Track ----- ng
Cynthia Sue - - - » - -129
Come Nigga's Arouse - - - - 160
Come Black Stephen - - - - 187
Clam Nigga's Serenade - - - 217
Crow Medley - - - - - 238
Dinah Clare ----- g
Dandy Broadway Swell - . - - - 8
Dare's Music in de Bones 10
Dandy Jim of Caroline - - - - 15
De Ole Hare ..... 20
Daylight is on de Field - - - - 23
De Alabama Chorus - - 25
De Dinner Horn ----- 40
De Yaller Sun ----- 50
De Ole Banjo ------ 57
De Oak I'se sawed so long 62
Day and Martin - - - - - 111
Do fare you well Ladies - 135
De Lip Hung Down - - - - 141
De Wild Racoon 1 rack ... 149
De Ole Wurginny Break Down - - 169
De Sandy Boy - - - - - 179
De Banks ob de Mississippi - - - 183
De Floating Scow ob Ole Wurginny - 186
De Broken Shin ----- 193
CONTENTS. fH
De West Chester Nigga Song - . 198
De Nigga General ----- 200
Den you'll Remember Me - 204
De Nigga Gals Dream - 205
De Ole Wurginny State - 206
De Big Moon - - - 206
De Ole Roast Possum I - - 208
De Yaller Corn ------ 219
De Singing Nigga ob Ohio - - 320
De Ole Jaw Bone ----- 226
De Banks ob de Delegare - 242
De Departed Niggas - 245
Eberlinah ------ 89
Fine Old Colored Gemman 7
Gals aint you comin out to night - - 61
Genteel Fine Ole Nigga - - - - 86
Go away, Go away - 144
Good Bye John - - - - 161
Git up in de Morning - 180
Grand Nigga Medley - 190
Gib us Chaw Terbacker - - - 191
Gray Goose and Gander - 212
Going ober de Mountain "- - - 221
Git along John - - - - 225
Good Morning Ladies All - - J 227
Ginger Blue ------ 236
Gailey the Nigga'a Dance - - - 243
iV CONTENTS.
Hop Lite Loo ..... 35
History ob Ole Wurginny ... 41
Hard Times ...... 43
Hominy Man ..... 51
Its down in Ole Wurginny - - - 13
I wonder war he went to - - - S3
I'll Fire dis Trip - - - - - 168
Juba - -- -- --37
Jim Jaw Bone ----- 60
Jim ob Ole Wurginny 63
Jim Along Josey - 68
Jim Crow's Rambl,e ... - 75
J ulianna Johnson ..... 136
Jim Crack Corn ----- 145
Jolly Raftsman - - - - - 150
Jenny git your hoe cake done - - 167
Jumbo Jum - 231
London Boatman's Dance ... 14
Look Ober Dare ----- 22
Long Time Ago .... 47
Lubly Dine ------ 52
Love among de Nigga's - - - 114
Lucy Neale ------ 137
Lucy Long ------ 142
List Nigga's! List! - - • . 143
Lynchburgh Town - - 151
Mrs. Tucker - - 65
CONTENTS. y
Ma'mselle Ge Mary - 102
Mary Blane - - - - - 131
Mungo berry much glad - 233
New Roads of Alabama - - - - 19
Nigga Wench Fight - - 33
Nigga's Reasons - 66
Nights when we went Coon Hunting - 72
New Banjo Song - - - - - 93
Negro Parody - - - - - 104
Nigga's Travel - - - - - 118
Nebber do to gib it up so - - - 189
Nigga take warnin - - - - 197
Nigga put down dat jug - 209
New Oh Hush ----- 244
Nigga Pompey - - - - 247
Ober de Mountain - - 10
Old Napper Arise 38
Old Roast Possum ----- 53
Old Clems Coon Hunt 54
Oh git along home my yaller gal - - 82
Oh Mr. Coon ----- 84
Old Mr. Brown - - - 99
Ob Sea Bass ----- 126
Old Aunt Sally ----- 189
Old Napper ----- 146
Old Dad - - _ " - - - 147
Oh dare he goes data him - • . - 153
Old King Crow 157
Old Nigga Man ----- 163
VI CONTENTS.
Ole Bull and Dan Tucker - 184 -
Ole Tater Peelin ----- 214 [
Old Dan Tucker ----- 215'
Old Joe ------ 241
Peace go wid dem Niggas - - 21
Pompey O. Smash - - 55
Piper's Son ------ 79
Pompey's Heel - - - - - 100
Philadelphia Dan Tucker - - - 112
Polly-tickle song - - - 129
Picayune Butler ----- 152
Phillisee Charcoal - - - 217
Raal Lucy Long - - - 77
Racoon Hunt - - - - » 101
Rose ob Ole Wurginny - - 246
Susa Teill ---■•• 28
Such a gitten up stairs • • • . - 29
Sweet Possum for Dee - » - - 39
Sally is de Gal for me - - » • 46
Sing Darkies Sing - - • 108
Susy Brown - - - - 132
Saudy Point - - » • ' - 190
Sound your horn • 197
Sich a dancing ob de Nigga's - - 201
Tom "Walker ------ 34
Trip to Nigga Meetin - - - • 120
There'll be a stormy morning - 127
CONTESTS. Vli
To the Cornfields - 174
The Old Pee Dee ----- 202
The Hut whar we libed - 242
Uncle Sammy - • - - 73
Uncle Gabriel ----- 190
Virgiimy's Black Daughter - 143
Virginny Boy ------ 182
Who's Dare ----- 21
We am de Nigga's - - - - 27
Way She Went ----- 42
What's going on - - - - 105
Who's dat knocking at de door ? - 155
Whar did you come from ? - - - 164
Walk in de Parlor .... 170
Work Nigga's Work - - - - 173
Walk along Jumbo - 175
Walk Jaw Bone ----- 177
Way down Souf - - - - 203
Wild Goose Nation - - 213
Who's dat Nigga dar a peepen - - 229
We lib on de banks o\> de Ohio - - 235
Yaller Busha Belle - " " - 31
Yaw! Yaw 11 Yawl! - - - - 94
Robert W. Woodruff
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