November 9. Story of the Day: Bedbug.

This song comes from Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

It's a fun list of bugs, not exactly a chain tale, but definitely a fun list!

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

BEDBUG

De June-bug's got de golden wing,
De Lightning-bug de flame;
De Bedbug's got no wing at all,
But he gits dar jes de same.

De Punkin-bug's got a punkin smell,
De Squash-bug smells de wust;
But de puffume of dat ole Bedbug,
It's enough to make you bust.

Wen dat Bedbug come down to my house,
I wants my walkin' cane.
Go git a pot an' scald 'im hot!
Good-by, Miss Lize Jane!

(bedbug)

October 30. Story of the Day: A Man of Words

This version of the traditional rhyme comes from Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This is Roud 19103: A Man of Words. You can compare a traditional British version from Lang's Nursery Rhymes, and also a children's game.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

A MAN OF WORDS

A man o' words an' not o' deeds,
Is lak a gyarden full o' weeds.

De weeds 'gin to grow
Lak a gyarden full o' snow.

De snow 'gin to fly
Lak a eagle in de sky.

De sky 'gin to roar
Lak a hammer on yō' door.

De door 'gin to crack
Lak a hick'ry on yō' back.

Yō' back 'gin to smart
Lak a knife in yō' heart.

Yō' heart 'gin to fail
Lak a boat widout a sail.

De boat 'gin to sink
Lak a bottle full o' ink.

Dat ink, it won't write
Neider black nor white.

Dat man o' words an' not o' deeds,
Is lak a gyarden full o' weeds.

(photo by Mike Mozart)

October 15. Story of the Day: Animal Attire

This cute little rhyme is from Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley. This is one of those fun animal lists! I didn't find it in Roud, so now I'm curious if I can find other versions of this elsewhere, maybe even a fuller version.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

ANIMAL ATTIRE

(photo by torange)

Dat Coon, he w'ar a undershirt;
Dat 'Possum w'ar a gown.
Br'er Rabbit, he w'ar a overcoat
Wid buttons up an' down.

Mistah Gobbler's got beads 'roun' 'is nec'.
Mistah Pattridge's got a collar, Hun!
Mistah Peacock, a fedder on his head!
But dese don't stop no gun.

October 9. Story of the Day: Gray and Black Horses

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This is Roud 469.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

GRAY AND BLACK HORSES

I went down to de woods an' I couldn' go 'cross,

So I paid five dollars fer an ole gray hoss.

De hoss wouldn' pull, so I sōl' 'im fer a bull.

De bull wouldn' holler, so I sōl' 'im fer a dollar.

De dollar wouldn' pass, so I throwed it in de grass.

Den de grass wouldn' grow. Heigho! Heigho!

Through dat huckleberry woods I couldn' git far,

So I paid a good dollar fer an ole black mar'.

W'en I got down dar, de trees wouldn' bar;

So I had to gallop back on dat ole black mar'.

"Bookitie-bar!" Dat ole black mar';
"Bookitie-bar!" Dat ole black mar'.

Yes she trabble so hard dat she jolt off my ha'r.

(Geograph: Norfolk)

September 21. Story of the Day: Budget

This little story comes from Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley. There is not much to the list in the form reported here, but it is clearly expandable to every season, every holiday, etc.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

A BUDGET

If I lives to see nex' Spring

I'se gwineter buy my wife a big gold ring.

If I lives to see nex' Fall,

I'se gwinter buy my wife a waterfall.

"When Christmas comes?" You cunnin' elf!

I'se gwineter spen' my money on myself.

(19th-century Santa)

August 25. Story of the Day: Bought Me a Wife

This animal-sound series is from the Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This is Roud 544. For a cumulative version of this song, see The Barnyard Song. It would be easy to make a cumulative version of these lyrics too!

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

BOUGHT ME A WIFE

Bought me a wife an' de wife please me,
I feeds my wife un'er yon'er tree.

My wife go: "Row-row!"

My guinea go: "Potrack! Potrack!"

My chicken go: "Gymsack! Gymsack!"

My duck go: "Quack-quack! Quack-quack!"

My dog go: "Bow-bow!"

My hoss go: "Whee-whee! Whee-whee!"

My cat go: "Fiddle-toe! Fiddle-toe!"

(farm animals)

Talley. Animal Persecutors

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

ANIMAL PERSECUTORS

(pixabay)

I went up on de mountain,
To git a bag o' co'n.
Dat coon, he sicked 'is dog on me,
Dat 'possum blowed 'is ho'n.

Dat gobbler up an' laugh at me.
Dat pattridge giggled out.
Dat peacock squall to bust 'is sides,
To see me runnin' 'bout.

Talley. Jack and Dinah Want Freedom

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

JACK AND DINAH WANT FREEDOM

(folk painting, late 18th century)

Ole Aunt Dinah, she's jes lak me.
She wuk so hard dat she want to be free.
But, you know, Aunt Dinah's gittin' sorter ole;
An' she's feared to go to Canada, caze it's so cōl'.

Dar wus ole Uncle Jack, he want to git free.
He find de way Norf by de moss on de tree.
He cross dat river a-floatin' in a tub.
Dem Patterollers give 'im a mighty close rub.

Dar is ole Uncle Billy, he's a mighty good Nigger.
He tote all de news to Mosser a little bigger.
When you tells Uncle Billy, you wants free fer a fac';
De nex' day de hide drap off'n yō' back.


NOTES

The Negroes repeating this rhyme did not always give the names Jack, Dinah, and Billy, as we here record them, but at their pleasure put in the individual name of the Negro in their surroundings whom the stanza being repeated might represent. Thus this little rhyme was the scientific dividing, on the part of the Negroes themselves, of the members of their race into three general classes with respect to the matter of Freedom.

Talley. Destinies of Good and Bad Children

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

DESTINIES OF GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN

(pixabay)

One, two, three, fō', five, six, seben;
All de good chilluns goes to Heaben.
All de bad chilluns goes below,
To segashuate wid ole man Joe.

One, two, three, fō', five, six, seben, eight;
All de good chilluns goes in de Pearly Gate.
But all de bad chilluns goes the Broad Road below,
To segashuate wid ole man Joe.


NOTES

Segashuate means associate with.

Talley. Frog Went A-Courtin'

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This is Roud 16: Froggy's Courting.

FROG WENT A-COURTING

De frog went a-co'tin', he did ride. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De frog went a-co'tin', he did ride
Wid a sword an' a pistol by 'is side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

He rid up to Miss Mousie's dō'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He rid up to Miss Mousie's dō',
Whar he'd of'en been befō. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Says he: "Miss Mousie, is you in?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Says he: "Miss Mousie, is you in?"
"Oh yes, Sugar Lump! I kyard an' spin." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

He tuck dat Mousie on his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He tuck dat Mousie on his knee,
An' he say: "Dear Honey, marry me!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat,
Widout de sayso o' uncle Rat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home,
Sayin': "Whose been here since I'se been gone?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"A fine young gemmun fer to see." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"A fine young gemmun fer to see,
An' one dat axed fer to marry me." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side.
"Jes think o' Mousie's bein' a bride!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Nex' day, dat rat went down to town. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Nex' day dat rat went down to town,
To git up de Mousie's Weddin' gown. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?"—
"Dat acorn hull, all gray an' brown!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"—
"Down in de swamp in a holler tree." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"—
"Two brown beans an' a blackeyed pea." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Fust to come in wus de Bumblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Fust to come in wus de Bumblebee.
Wid a fiddle an' bow across his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren,
An' he dance a reel wid de Turkey Hen. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake,
He swallowed de whole weddin' cake! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea,
An' he dance a jig fer de Bumblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse.
He dance a breakdown 'round de house. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' to come wus Major Tick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' to come wus Major Tick,
An' he e't so much it make 'im sick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly.
Says he: "Major Tick, you's boun' to die." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat,
An' chilluns, dey all hollered, "Scat!!" Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!

It give dat frog a turble fright. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
It give dat frog a turble fright,
An' he up an' say to dem, "Good-night!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun',
An' a big black duck come gobble 'im down. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?"—
"W'y—, she got swallered on de spot!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Now, I don't know no mō' 'an dat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Now, I don't know no mō' 'an dat.
If you gits mō' you can take my hat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' if you thinks dat hat won't do. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' if you thinks dat hat won't do,
Den you mought take my head 'long, too. Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!

Talley. Little Sleeping Negroes

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

LITTLE SLEEPING NEGROES

One liddle Nigger a-lyin' in de bed;
His eyes shet an' still, lak he been dead.

Two liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
A-snorin' an' a-dreamin' of a table spread.

Three liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
Deir heels cracked open lak shorten' bread.

Four liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
Dey'd better hop out, if dey wants to git fed!

(rooster crowing)

Talley. Getting Ten Negro Boys Together

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

GETTING TEN NEGRO BOYS TOGETHER

One liddle Nigger boy whistle an' stew,
He whistle up anudder Nigger an' dat make two.

Two liddle Nigger boys shuck de apple tree,
Down fall anudder Nigger, an' dat make three.

Three liddle Nigger boys, a-wantin' one more,
Never has no trouble a-gittin' up four.

Four liddle Nigger boys, dey cain't drive.
Dey hire a Nigger hack boy, an' dat make five.

Five liddle Niggers, bein' calcullated men,
Call anudder Nigger 'piece an' dat make ten.

(coloring page)

Talley. Little Boy Who Couldn't Count Seven

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

See the reference also in the Banjo Boy.

LITTLE BOY WHO COULDN'T COUNT SEVEN

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count one.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought it great big fun.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count two.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought 'e 'us gwine through.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count three.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de Niggers 'us free.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count fō'.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e jumped out on de flō'.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count five.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de dead alive.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count six.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e never did git fix!

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count seben.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought he's gwine to Heaben!

(antique feather bed)

Talley. Master Killed a Big Bull

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

MASTER KILLED A BIG BULL

Mosser killed a big bull,
Missus cooked a dish full,
Didn't give poor Nigger a mouf full.
Humph! Humph!

Mosser killed a fat lam'.
Missus brung a basket,
An' give poor Nigger de haslet.
Eh-eh! Eh-eh!

Mosser killed a fat hog
Missus biled de middlin's,
An' give poor Nigger de chitlin's.
Shō! Shō!

(pixabay)

Talley. How to Keep or Kill the Devil

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

HOW TO KEEP OR KILL THE DEVIL

If you wants to see de Devil smile,
Simpully do lak his own chile.

If you wants to see de Devil git spunk,
Swallow whisky, an' git drunk.

If you wants to see de Devil live,
Cuss an' swar an' never give.

If you wants to see de Devil run,
Jes tu'n a loose de Gospel gun.

If you wants to see de Devil fall,
Hit him wid de Gospel ball.

If you wants to see de Devil beg,
Nail him wid a Gospel peg.

If you wants to see de Devil sick,
Beat him wid a Gospel stick.

If you wants to see de Devil die,
Feed him up on Gospel pie.

But de Devil w'ars dat iron shoe,
An' if you don't watch, he'll slip it on you.

(Devil's Playground, c. 1890)

Talley. Satan.

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

 Compare the Satan-free children's rhyme: God made man, man made money.

SATAN

De Lawd made man, an' de man made money.
De Lawd made de bees, an' de bees made honey.
De Lawd made ole Satan, an' ole Satan he make sin.
Den de Lawd, He make a liddle hole to put ole Satan in.

Did you ever see de Devil, wid his iron handled shovel,
A scrapin' up de san' in his ole tin pan?
He cuts up mighty funny, he steals all yō' money,
He blinds you wid his san'. He's tryin' to git you, man!

(maxpixel)

Talley. Did You Feed My Cow?

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

DID YOU FEED MY COW?

(cow)

"Did yer feed my cow?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Will yer tell me how?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, w'at did yer give 'er?" "Cawn an' hay."
"Oh, w'at did yer give 'er?" "Cawn an' hay."

"Did yer milk 'er good?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Did yer do lak yer should?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did yer milk 'er?" "Swish! Swish! Swish!"
"Oh, how did yer milk 'er?" "Swish! Swish! Swish!"

"Did dat cow git sick?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Wus she kivered wid tick?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how wus she sick?" "All bloated up."
"Oh, how wus she sick?" "All bloated up."

"Did dat cow die?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Wid a pain in 'er eye?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did she die?" "Uh-! Uh-! Uh-!"
"Oh, how did she die?" "Uh-! Uh-! Uh-!"

"Did de Buzzards come?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Fer to pick 'er bone?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did they come?" "Flop! Flop! Flop!"
"Oh, how did they come?" "Flop! Flop! Flop!"

Talley. Peep Squirrel

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This is Roud 7645.

PEEP SQUIRREL

(squirrel in chapbook, c. 1810)

Peep squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum;
Peep squir'l, it's almos' day,
Look squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum,
Look squir'l, an' run away.

Walk squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum;
Walk squir'l, fer dat's de way.
Skip squir'l, ying-ding-did-lum;
Skip squir'l, all dress in gray.

Run squir'l! Ying-ding-did-lum!
Run squir'l! Oh, run away!
I cotch you squir'l! Ying-ding-did-lum!
I cotch you squir'l! Now stay, I say.

June 21. Story of the Day: Fishing Simon

This song comes from Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley, the first African-American to publish a book of folk rhymes and songs; you can read more about the remarkable Dr. Talley at Wikipedia.

Based on the West African story about a pigeon who behaves very much like the fish in this story, I've decided this story can be classified as ATU 2041. The Bird Indifferent to Pain. Luckily for the hero of this story, the fish are not as dangerous as the devil-pigeon! You can read that story here: The Devil Turns Pigeon. The indestructible bird also shows up in stories from India like The Mango Bird. I like this fish version the best though!

I enjoyed finding this story even more because a friend of mine's son, named Simon, is a professional fishing guide in east Texas (Lake Livingston); here's his site: Simon Cosper's Get the Net Guide Service. Luckily, he has not met any supernatural fish like the one in this story!

Ready for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

FISHING SIMON

Simon tuck his hook an' pole,
An' fished on Sunday we's been told.
Fish dem water death bells ring,
Talk from out'n de water, sing—

"Bait yō' hook, Simon!
Drap yō' line, Simon!
Now ketch me, Simon!
Pull me out, Simon!
Take me home, Simon!
Now clean me, Simon!
Cut me up now, Simon!
Now salt me, Simon!
Now fry me, Simon!
Dish me up now, Simon!
Eat me all, Simon!"

Simon e't till he wus full.
Still dat fish keep his plate full.
Simon want no mō' at all,
Fish say dat he mus' eat all.
Simon's sick, so he throw up!
He give Sunday fishin' up.

(pixabay)

Talley. Jaybird Died with the Whooping Cough

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This song is about a series of birds: it starts off with the birds who died from different diseases (jaybird/whooping-cough, sparrow/colic, bluebird/measles), but then it morphs into a dance party: the redbird announces the frolic, the crows dance with the weasels, and then come the mocking bird, the gray goose, and the thrasher bird, who happens to be the state bird of Georgia.

This bird-song is Roud 748. For bits and pieces of this song as attested throughout the southern states, see: Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore, volume 3, 153: The Jaybird. There are many versions of this song without the series of birds as in Talley; for more, see the Traditional Tune Archive: Jaybird Died of the Whooping Cough.

For another collection of birds in a song, see Roud 747: Bird Song.

JAYBIRD DIED WITH THE WHOOPING COUGH


(bluejay)

De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough,
De Sparrer died wid de colic;
'Long come de Red-bird, skippin' 'round,
Sayin': "Boys, git ready fer de Frolic!"

De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough,
De Bluebird died wid de Measles;
'Long come a Nigger wid a fiddle on his back,
'Vitin' Crows fer to dance wid de Weasels.

Dat Mockin'-bird, he romp an' sing;
Dat ole Gray Goose come prancin'.
Dat Thrasher stuff his mouf wid plums,
Den he caper on down to de dancin'.

Dey hopped it low, an' dey hopped it high;
Dey hopped it to, an' dey hopped it by;
Dey hopped it fer, an' dey hopped it nigh;
Dat fiddle an' bow jes make 'em fly.


Here's the fun from Banjojukebox:

(thrasher)

Someone made this recording of a thrasher bird singing: