Read Ebook: Negro Folk Rhymes Wise and Otherwise: With a Study by Talley Thomas Washington

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Ebook has 933 lines and 94222 words, and 19 pages

TAILS

De coon's got a long ringed bushy tail, De 'possum's tail is bare; Dat rabbit hain't got no tail 'tall, 'Cep' a liddle bunch o' hair.

De gobbler's got a big fan tail, De pattridge's tail is small; Dat peacock's tail 's got great big eyes, But dey don't see nothin' 'tall.

CAPTAIN DIME

Cappun Dime is a fine w'ite man. He wash his face in a fry'n' pan, He comb his head wid a waggin wheel, An' he die wid de toothache in his heel.

Cappun Dime is a mighty fine feller, An' he sh?' play kyards wid de Niggers in de cellar, But he will git drunk, an' he won't smoke a pipe, Den he will pull de watermillions 'fore dey gits ripe.

CROSSING THE RIVER

I went down to de river an' I couldn' git 'cross. I jumped on er mule an' I thought 'e wus er hoss. Dat mule 'e wa'k in an' git mired up in de san'; You'd oughter see'd dis Nigger make back fer de lan'!

I want to cross de river but I caint git 'cross; So I mounted on a ram, fer I thought 'e wus er hoss. I plunged him in, but he sorter fail to swim; An' I give five dollars fer to git 'im out ag'in.

Yes, I went down to de river an' I couldn' git 'cross, So I give a whole dollar fer a ole blin' hoss; Den I souzed him in an' he sink 'stead o' swim. Do you know I got wet clean to my ole hat brim?

T-U-TURKEY

T-u, tucky, T-u, ti. T-u, tucky, buzzard's eye. T-u, tucky, T-u, ting. T-u, tucky, buzzard's wing. Oh, Mistah Washin'ton! Don't whoop me, Whoop dat Nigger Back 'hind dat tree. He stole tucky, I didn' steal none. Go wuk him in de co'n field jes fer fun.

CHICKEN IN THE BREAD TRAY

"Auntie, will y?' dog bite?"-- "No, Chile! No!" Chicken in de bread tray A makin' up dough.

"Auntie, will y?' broom hit?"-- "Yes, Chile!" Pop! Chicken in de bread tray; "Flop! Flop! Flop!"

"Auntie, will y?' oven bake?"-- "Yes. Jes fry!"-- "What's dat chicken good fer?"-- "Pie! Pie! Pie!"

"Auntie, is y?' pie good?"-- "Good as you could 'spec'." Chicken in de bread tray; "Peck! Peck! Peck!"

MOLLY COTTONTAIL, OR, GRAVEYARD RABBIT

Ole Molly Cottontail, At night, w'en de moon's pale; You don't fail to tu'n tail, You always gives me leg bail.

Molly in de Bramble-brier, Let me git a little nigher; Prickly-pear, it sting lak fire! Do please come pick out de brier!

Molly in de pale moonlight, Y?' tail is sh? a pretty white; You takes it fer 'way out'n sight. "Molly! Molly! Molly Bright!"

Ole Molly Cottontail, You sets up on a rotten rail! You tears through de graveyard! You makes dem ugly hants wail.

Ole Molly Cottontail, Won't you be shore not to fail To give me y?' right h?n' foot? My luck, it won't be fer sale.

This embraces the old superstition that carrying in one's pocket the right hind foot of a rabbit, which has habitually lived about a cemetery, brings good luck to its possessor.

JUBA

Juba dis, an' Juba dat, Juba skin dat Yaller Cat. Juba! Juba!

Juba jump an' Juba sing. Juba, cut dat Pigeon's Wing. Juba! Juba!

Juba, kick off Juba's shoe. Juba, dance dat Jubal Jew. Juba! Juba!

Juba, whirl dat foot about. Juba, blow dat candle out. Juba! Juba!

Juba circle, Raise de Latch. Juba do dat Long Dog Scratch. Juba! Juba!

This peculiar kind of dance rhyme is explained in the Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.

The expressions marked are various kinds of dance steps.

ON TOP OF THE POT

Wild goose gallop an' gander trot; Walk about, Mistiss, on top o' de pot!

Hog jowl bilin', an' tunnup greens hot, Walk about, Billie, on top o' de pot!

Chitlins, hog years, all on de spot, Walk about, ladies, on top o' de pot!

STAND BACK, BLACK MAN

In a few places in the South, just following the Civil War, the Mulattoes organized themselves into a little guild known as "The Blue Vein Circle," from which those who were black were excluded. This is one of their rhymes.

NEGROES NEVER DIE

Nigger! Nigger never die! He gits choked on Chicken pie. Black face, white shiny eye. Nigger! Nigger!

Nigger! Nigger never knows! Mashed nose, an' crooked toes; Dat's de way de Nigger goes. Nigger! Nigger!

Nigger! Nigger always sing; Jump up, cut de Pidgeon's wing; Whirl, an' give his feet a fling. Nigger! Nigger!

JAWBONE

Samson, shout! Samson, moan! Samson, bring on y?' Jawbone.

Jawbone, walk! Jawbone, talk! Jawbone, eat wid a knife an fo'k.

Walk, Jawbone! Jinny, come alon'! Yon'er goes Sally wid de bootees on.

Jawbone, ring! Jawbone, sing! Jawbone, kill dat wicked thing.

INDIAN FLEA

Injun flea, bit my knee; Kaze I wouldn' drink ginger tea.

Flea bite hard, flea bite quick; Flea bite burn lak dat seed tick.

Hit dat flea, flea not dere. I'se so mad I pulls my hair.

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