Negro Folk Rhymes Part 3

JUMP JIM CROW

Git fus upon yo' heel, An' den upon yo' toe; An ebry time you tu'n 'round, You jump Jim Crow.

Now fall upon yo' knees, Jump up an' bow low; An' ebry time you tu'n 'round, You jump Jim Crow.

Put yo' han's upon yo' hips, Bow low to yo' beau; An' ebry time you tu'n 'round, You jump Jim Crow.

DANCE RHYME SONG SECTION

[music]

JAYBIRD

De Jaybird jump from lim' to lim', An' he tell Br'er Rabbit to do lak him.

Br'er Rabbit say to de cunnin' elf: "You jes want me to fall an' kill myself."

Dat Jaybird a-settin' on a swingin' lim'.

He wink at me an' I wink at him.

He laugh at me w'en my gun "crack."

It kick me down on de flat o' my back.

Nex' day de Jaybird dance dat lim'.

I grabs my gun fer to shoot at him.

W'en I "crack" down, it split my chin.

"Ole Aggie Cunjer" fly lak sin.

Way down yon'er at de risin' sun, Jaybird a-talkin' wid a forked tongue.

[8]He's been down dar whar de bad mens dwell.

"Ole Friday Devil," fare--you--well!

[8] A superst.i.tion. For explanation, see Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.

OFF FROM RICHMOND

I'se off from Richmon' sooner in de mornin'.

I'se off from Richmon' befo' de break o' day.

I slips off from Mosser widout pa.s.s an' warnin'

Fer I mus' see my Donie wharever she may stay.

HE IS MY HORSE

One day as I wus a-ridin' by, Said dey: "Ole man, yo' hoss will die"-- "If he dies, he is my loss; An' if he lives, he is my hoss."

Nex' day w'en I come a-ridin' by, Dey said: "Ole man, yo' hoss may die."-- "If he dies, I'll tan 'is skin; An' if he lives, I'll ride 'im ag'in."

Den ag'in w'en I come a-ridin' by, Said dey: "Ole man, yo' hoss mought die."-- "If he dies, I'll eat his co'n; An' if he lives, I'll ride 'im on."

[9]JUDGE BUZZARD

Dere sets Jedge Buzzard on de Bench.

Go tu'n him off wid a monkey wrench!

Jedge Buzzard try Br'er Rabbit's case; An' he say Br'er Tarepin win dat race.

Here sets Jedge Buzzard on de Bench.

Knock him off wid dat monkey wrench!

[9] See Study in Negro Rhymes for explanation.

SHEEP AND GOAT

Sheep an' goat gwine to de paster; Says de goat to de sheep: "Cain't you walk a liddle faster?"

De sheep says: "I cain't, I'se a liddle too full."

Den de goat say: "You can wid my ho'ns in yo' wool."

But de goat fall down an' skin 'is s.h.i.+n An' de sheep split 'is lip wid a big broad grin.

JACKSON, PUT THAT KETTLE ON!

Jackson, put dat kittle on!

Fire, steam dat coffee done!

Day done broke, an' I got to run Fer to meet my gal by de risin' sun.

My ole Mosser say to me, Dat I mus' drink [10]sa.s.sfac tea; But Jackson stews dat coffee done, An' he sho' gits his po'tion: Son!

[10] Sa.s.sfac = sa.s.safras.

DINAH'S DINNER HORN

It's a col', frosty mornin', An' de n.i.g.g.e.rs goes to wo'k; Wid deir axes on deir shoulders, An' widout a bit o' [11]shu't.

Dey's got ole husky ashcake, Widout a bit o' fat; An' de white folks'll grumble, If you eats much o' dat.

I runs down to de henhouse, An' I falls upon my knees; It's 'nough to make a rabbit laugh To hear my tucky sneeze.

I grows up on dem meatskins, I comes down on a bone; I hits dat co'n bread fifty licks, I makes dat b.u.t.ter moan.

It's glory in yo' honor!