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 shin 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!