*In the days of slavery, the religious services held by the negroes who accompanied their owners to the camp-meetings were marvels of earnestness and devotion.
III. CORN-SHUCKING SONG
OH, de fus" news you know de day"ll be a breakin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango! *1) An" de fier be a burnin" en" de ash-cake a bakin", (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) An" de ho"n "ll be a hollerin" en de boss "ll be a wakin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Better git up, n.i.g.g.e.r, en give yo"se"f a shakin"-- (Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)
Oh, honey! w"en you see dem ripe stars a fallin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Oh, honey! w"en you year de rain-crow a callin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Oh, honey! w"en you year dat red calf a bawlin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Den de day time"s a creepin" en a crawlin"-- (Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)
For de los" ell en yard *2 is a huntin" for de mornin", (Hi O! git long! go "way!) En she"ll ketch up wid dus "fo" we ever git dis corn in-- (Oh, go "way, Sindy Ann!)
Oh, honey! w"en you year dat tin horn a tootin"
(Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Oh, honey, w"en you year de squinch owl a hootin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Oh, honey! w"en you year dem little pigs a rootin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Right den she"s a comin" a skippin" en a scootin"-- (Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)
Oh, honey, w"en you year dat roan mule whicker-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) W"en you see Mister Moon turnin" pale en gittin" sicker-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Den hit"s time for ter handle dat corn a little quicker-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Ef you wanter git a smell er old Marster"s jug er licker-- (Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)
For de los" ell en yard is a huntin" for de mornin"
(Hi O! git long! go "way!) En she"ll ketch up wid dus "fo" we ever git dis corn in-- (Oh, go "way, Sindy Ann!) You n.i.g.g.e.rs "cross dar! you better stop your dancin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) No use for ter come a flingin" un yo" "sha"n"ts" in-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) No use for ter come a flingin" un yo" "can"t"s" in-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Kaze dey ain"t no time for yo" pattin" nor yo" prancin"!
(Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)
Mr. Rabbit see de Fox, en he sa.s.s um en jaws um-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Mr. Fox ketch de Rabbit, en he scratch um en he claws um-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) En he tar off de hide, en he chaws um en he gnyaws um-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Same like gal chawin" sweet gum en rozzum-- (Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!) For de los" ell en yard is a huntin" for de mornin"
(Hi O! git "long! go "way!) En she"ll ketch up wid dus "fo" we ever git dis corn in-- (Oh, go "way, Sindy Ann!)
Oh, work on, boys! give doze shucks a mighty wringin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) "Fo" de boss come aroun" a dangin" en a dingin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Git up en move aroun"! set dem big han"s ter swingin"-- (Hey O! Hi O! Up"n down de Bango!) Git up"n shout loud! let de w"ite folks year you singin"!
(Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)
For de los" ell en yard is a huntin" for de mornin"
(Hi O! git long! go "way!) En she"ll ketch up wid dus "fo" we ever git dis corn in.
(Oh, go "way Sindy Ann!)
*1 So far as I know, "Bango" is a meaningless term, introduced on account of its sonorous ruggedness.
*2 The sword and belt in the constellation of Orion.
IV. THE PLOUGH-HANDS" SONG (JASPER COUNTY--1860.)
n.i.g.g.e.r mighty happy w"en he layin" by co"n-- Dat sun"s a slantin"; n.i.g.g.e.r mighty happy w"en he year de dinner-ho"n-- Dat sun"s a slantin"; En he mo" happy still w"en de night draws on-- Dat sun"s a slantin"; Dat sun"s a slantin" des ez sho"s you bo"n!
En it"s rise up, Primus! fetch anudder yell: Dat ole dun cow"s des a shakin" up "er bell, En de frogs chunin" up "fo" de jew done fell: Good-night, Mr. Killdee! I wish you mighty well!
--Mr. Killdee! I wish you mighty well!
--I wish you mighty well!
Do co"n "ll be ready "g"inst dumplin" day-- Dat sun"s a slantin"; But n.i.g.g.e.r gotter watch, en stick, en stay-- Dat sun"s a slantin"; Same ez de bee-martin watchin" un de jay-- Dat sun"s a slantin"; Dat sun"s a slantin" en a slippin" away!
Den it"s rise up, Primus! en gin it turn strong; De cow"s gwine home wid der ding-dang-dong-- Sling in anudder tetch er de ole-time song: Good-night, Mr. Whipperwill! don"t stay long!
--Mr. Whipperwill! don"t stay long!
--Don"t stay long!
V. CHRISTMAS PLAY-SONG (MYRICK PLACE, PUTNAM COUNTY 1858.)
Hi my rinktum! Black gal sweet, Same like goodies w"at de w"ite folks eat; Ho my Riley! don"t you take"n tell "er name, En den ef sumpin" happen you won"t ketch de blame; Hi my rinktum! better take"n hide yo" plum; Joree don"t holler eve"y time he fine a wum.
Den it"s hi my rinktum!
Don"t git no udder man; En it"s ho my Riley!
Fetch out Miss Dilsey Ann!
Ho my Riley! Yaller gal fine; She may be yone but she oughter be mine!
Hi my rinktum! Lemme git by, En see w"at she mean by de cut er dat eye!
Ho my Riley! better shet dat do"-- De w"ite folks "ll bleeve we er t"arin up de flo".
Den it"s ho my Riley!
Come a siftin" up ter me!
En it"s hi my rinktum!
Dis de way ter twis" yo" knee!
Hi my rinktum! Ain"t de eas" gittin" red?
De squinch owl shiver like he wanter go ter bed; Ho my Riley! but de gals en de boys, Des now gittin" so dey kin sorter make a noise.
Hi my rinktum! let de yaller gal lone; n.i.g.g.e.rs don"t hanker arter sody in de pone.
Den it"s hi my rinktum!
Better try anudder plan; An" it"s ho my Riley!
Trot out Miss Dilsey Ann!
Ho my Riley! In de happy Chris"mus time De n.i.g.g.e.rs shake der cloze a huntin" for a dime.
Hi my rinktum! En den dey shake der feet, En greaze derse"f wid de good ham meat.
Ho my Riley! dey eat en dey cram, En bimeby ole Miss "ll be a sendin" out de dram.
Den it"s ho my Riley!
You hear dat, Sam!
En it"s hi my rinktum!
Be a sendin" out de dram!
VI. PLANTATION PLAY-SONG (PUTNAM COUNTY--1856.)
HIT"S a gittin" mighty late, w"en de Guinny-hins squall, En you better dance now, ef you gwineter dance a tall, Fer by dis time termorrer night you can"t hardly crawl, Kaze you"ll hatter take de hoe ag"in en likewise de maul-- Don"t you hear dat bay colt a kickin" in his stall?
Stop yo" humpin" up yo" sho"lders do!
Dat"ll never do! Hop light, ladies, Oh, Miss Loo!
Hit takes a heap er scrougin"
For ter git you thoo-- Hop light, ladies, Oh, Miss Loo!
Ef you n.i.g.g.e.rs don"t watch, you"ll sing anudder chune, Fer de sun"ll rise"n ketch you ef you don"t be mighty soon; En de stars is gittin" paler, en de ole gray c.o.o.n Is a settin" in de grape-vine a watchin" fer de moon.
W"en a feller comes a knockin"
Des holler--Oh, shoo!
Hop light, ladies, Oh, Miss Loo!
Oh, swing dat yaller gal!
Do, boys, do!
Hop light, ladies, Oh, Miss Loo!
Oh, tu"n me loose! Lemme "lone! Go way, now!
W"at you speck I come a dancin" fer ef I dunno how?
Deze de ve"y kinder footses w"at kicks up a row; Can"t you jump inter de middle en make yo" gal a bow?
Look at dat merlatter man A follerin" up Sue; Hop light, ladies, Oh, Miss Loo!