Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings Part 19

Ef you wanter see yo' own sins, clean up a new groun'.

Hog dunner w'ich part un 'im'll season de turnip salad.

Hit's a blessin' de w'ite sow don't shake de plum-tree.

Winter grape sour, whedder you kin reach 'im or not.

Mighty po' bee dat don't make mo' honey dan he want.

Kwis.h.i.+ns on mule's foots done gone out er fashun.

Pigs dunno w'at a pen's fer.

Possum's tail good as a paw.

Dogs don't bite at de front gate.

Colt in de barley-patch kick high.

Jay-bird don't rob his own nes'.

Pullet can't roost too high for de owl.

Meat fried 'fo' day won't las' twel night.

Stump water won't kyo' de gripes.

De howlin' dog know w'at he sees.

Blin' hoss don't fall w'en he follers de bit.

Hongry n.i.g.g.e.r won't w'ar his maul out.

Don't fling away de empty wallet.

Black-snake know de way ter de hin nes'.

Looks won't do ter split rails wid.

Settin' hens don't hanker arter fresh aigs.

Tater-vine growin' w'ile you sleep.

Hit take two birds fer to make a nes'.

Ef you bleedzd ter eat dirt, eat clean dirt.

Tarrypin walk fast 'nuff fer to go visitin'.

Empty smoke-house makes de pullet holler.

W'en c.o.o.n take water he fixin' fer ter fight.

Corn makes mo' at de mill dan it does in de crib.

Good luck say: "Op'n yo' mouf en shet yo' eyes."

n.i.g.g.e.r dat gets hurt wukkin oughter show de skyars.

Fiddlin' n.i.g.g.e.r say hit's long ways ter de dance.

Rooster makes mo' racket dan de hin w'at lay de aig.

Meller mush-million hollers at you fum over de fence.

n.i.g.g.e.r wid a pocket-hankcher better be looked atter.

Rain-crow don't sing no chune, but you k'n 'pen' on 'im.

One-eyed mule can't be handled on de bline side.

Moon may s.h.i.+ne, but a lightered knot's mighty handy.

Licker talks mighty loud w'en it git loose fum de jug.

De proudness un a man don't count w'en his head's cold.

Hongry rooster don't cackle w'en he fine a wum.

Some n.i.g.g.e.rs mighty smart, but dey can't drive de pidgins ter roos'.

You may know de way, but better keep yo' eyes on de seven stairs.

All de buzzards in de settlement 'll come to de gray mule's funer'l.

You k'n hide de fier, but w'at you gwine do wid de smoke?

Termorrow may be de carridge-driver's day for ploughin'.

Hit's a mighty deaf n.i.g.g.e.r dat don't year de dinner-ho'n.

Hit takes a bee fer ter git de sweetness out'n de h.o.a.r-houn'

blossom.

Ha'nts don't bodder longer hones' folks, but you better go 'roun'

de grave-yard.

De pig dat runs off wid de year er corn gits little mo' dan de cob.

Sleepin' in de fence-cornder don't fetch Chrismus in de kitchen.

De spring-house may freeze, but de n.i.g.g.e.rs 'll keep de shuck-pen warm.

'Twix' de bug en de bee-martin 'tain't hard ter tell w'ich gwineter git kotch.

Don't 'sput wid de squinch-owl. Jam de shovel in de fier.

You'd see mo' er de mink ef he know'd whar de yard dog sleeps.

Troubles is seasonin'.

'Simmons ain't good twel dey 'er fros'-bit.

Watch out w'en you'er gittin all you want. Fattenin' hogs ain't in luck.

HIS SONGS

I. REVIVAL HYMN

OH, whar s.h.i.+ll we go w'en de great day comes, Wid de blowin' er de trumpits en de bangin' er de drums?

How many po' sinners'll be kotched out late En fin' no latch ter de golden gate?

No use fer ter wait twel termorrer!

De sun mus'n't set on yo' sorrer, Sin's ez sharp ez a bamboo-brier- Oh, Lord! fetch de mo'ners up higher!

W'en de nashuns er de earf is a stan'in all aroun, Who's a gwineter be choosen fer ter w'ar de glory-crown?

Who's a gwine fer ter stan' stiff-kneed en bol'.

En answer to der name at de callin' er de roll?

You better come now ef you comin'-- Ole Satun is loose en a b.u.mmin'-- De wheels er distruckshun is a hummin'-- Oh, come long, sinner, ef you comin'!

De song er salvashun is a mighty sweet song, En de Pairidise win' blow fur en blow strong, En Aberham's bosom, hit's saft en hit's wide, En right dar's de place whar de sinners oughter hide!

Oh, you nee'nter be a stoppin' en a lookin'; Ef you fool wid ole Satun you'll git took in; You'll hang on de aidge en get shook in, Ef you keep on a stoppin' en a lookin'.

De time is right now, en dish yer's de place-- Let de sun er salvashun s.h.i.+ne squar' in yo' face; Fight de battles er de Lord, fight soon en fight late, En you'll allers fine a latch ter de golden gate.

No use fer ter wait twel termorrer, De sun musn't set on yo' sorrer-- Sin's ez sharp ez a bamboo-brier, Ax de Lord fer ter fetch you up higher!

II. CAMP-MEETING SONG *

OH, de worril is roun' en de worril is wide-- Lord! 'member deze chillun in de mornin'--

Hit's a mighty long ways up de mountain side, En dey ain't no place fer dem sinners fer ter hide, En dey ain't no place whar sin kin abide, W'en de Lord s.h.i.+ll come in de mornin'!

Look up en look aroun', Fling yo' burden on de groun', Hit's a gittin' mighty close on ter mornin'!

Smoove away sin's frown-- Retch up en git de crown, W'at de Lord will fetch in de mornin'!

De han' er ridem'shun, hit's hilt out ter you-- Lord! 'member dem sinners in de mornin'!

Hit's a mighty pashent han', but de days is but few, W'en Satun, he'll come a demandin' un his due, En de stiff-neck sinners 'll be smotin' all fru- Oh, you better git ready for de mornin'!

Look up en set yo' face To'ds de green hills of grace 'Fo' de sun rises up in de mornin'-- Oh, you better change yo' base, Hits yo' soul's las' race For de glory dat's a comin' in de mornin'!

De farmer gits ready w'en de lan's all plowed For ter sow dem seeds in de mornin'

De sperrit may be puny en de flesh may be proud, But you better cut loose fum de scoffin' crowd, En jine dose Christuns w'at's a cryin' out loud Fer de Lord fer ter come in de mornin'!

Shout loud en shout long, Let de eckoes ans'er strong, W'en de sun rises up in de mornin'!

Oh, you allers will be wrong Twel you choose ter belong Ter de Marster w'at's a comin' in de mornin'!