Negro Folk Rhymes Part 23

WE'LL STICK TO THE HOE

We'll stick to de hoe, till de sun go down.

We'll rise w'en de rooster crow, An' go to de fiel' whar de sun s.h.i.+ne hot, To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

Yes, Chilluns, we'll all go!

We'll go to de fiel' whar de sun s.h.i.+ne hot.

To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

Oh, sing 'long boys, fer de wuk hain't hard!

Oh sc.r.a.pe an' clean up de row.

Fer de gra.s.s musn' grow, while de sun s.h.i.+ne hot, In de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

No, Chilluns. No, No!

Dat gra.s.s musn' grow, while de sun s.h.i.+ne hot, In de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

Don't think 'bout de time, fer de time hain't long.

Yo' life soon come an' go; Den good-bye fiel' whar de sun s.h.i.+ne hot, To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

Yes, Chilluns. We'll all go!

Good-by to de fiel' whar de sun s.h.i.+ne hot, To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

A FINE PLASTER

W'en it's sheep skin an' beeswax, It sho's a mighty fine plaster: De mo' you tries to pull it off, De mo' it sticks de faster.

A DAY'S HAPPINESS

Fust: I went out to milk an' I didn' know how, I milked dat goat instid o' dat cow; While a n.i.g.g.e.r a-settin' wid a gapin' jaw, Kept winkin' his eye at a tucky in de straw.

Den: I went out de gate an' I went down de road, An' I met Miss 'Possum an' I met Mistah Toad; An' ev'y time Miss 'Possum 'ould sing, Mistah Toad 'ould cut dat Pigeon's Wing.

But: I went in a whoop, as I went down de road; I had a bawky team an' a heavy load.

I cracked my whip, an' ole Beck sprung, An' she busted out my wagin tongue.

Well: Dat night dere 'us a-gittin' up, sh.o.r.es you're born.

De louse go to supper, an' de flea blow de horn.

Dat racc.o.o.n paced, an' dat 'possum trot; Dat ole goose laid, an' de gander sot.

MASTER KILLED A BIG BULL

Mosser killed a big bull, Missus cooked a dish full, Didn't give poor n.i.g.g.e.r a mouf full.

Humph! Humph!

Mosser killed a fat lam'.

Missus brung a basket, An' give poor n.i.g.g.e.r de haslet.

Eh-eh! Eh-eh!

Mosser killed a fat hog Missus biled de middlin's, An' give poor n.i.g.g.e.r de chitlin's.

Sho! Sho!

YOU HAD BETTER MIND MASTER

'Way down yon'er in 'Possum Trot, (In ole Miss'sip' whar de sun s.h.i.+nes hot) Dere hain't no chickens an' de n.i.g.g.e.rs eats c'on; You hain't never see'd de lak since youse been bo'n, You'd better min' Mosser an' keep a stiff lip, So's you won't git sol' down to ole Miss'sip'.

LOVE RHYME SECTION

PRETTY LITTLE PINK

My pretty liddle Pink, I once did think, Dat we-uns sho' would marry; But I'se done give up, Hain't got no hope, I hain't got no time to tarry.

I'll drink coffee dat flows, From oaks dat grows, 'Long de river dat flows wid brandy.

A BITTER LOVERS' QUARREL--ONE SIDE

You nasty dog! You dirty hog!

You thinks somebody loves you.

I tells you dis to let you know I thinks myse'f above you.

ROSES RED

Rose's red, vi'lets blue.

Sugar is sweet but not lak you.

De vi'lets fade, de roses fall; But you gits sweeter, all in all.

As sh.o.r.e as de gra.s.s grows 'round de stump, You is my darlin' Sugar Lump.

W'en de sun don't s.h.i.+ne de day is cold, But my love fer you do not git old.

De ocean's deep, de sky is blue; Sugar is sweet, an' so is you; De ocean waves an' de sky gits pale, But my love are true, an' it never fail.

YOU HAVE MADE ME WEEP

You'se made me weep, you'se made me mourn, You'se made me tears an' sorrow.

So far' you well, my pretty liddle gal, I'se gwine away to-morrow.

MOURNING SLAVE FIANCEES

Look down dat lonesome road! Look down!

De way are dark an' col'.

Dey makes me weep, dey makes me mourn; All 'cause my love are sol'.