The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-04
OLD TIME MELODIES.
eoNes THE pARKlES USED TO SING
IN THE OLD SLAVE DAYS.


Into scrsppy Discords-''Massa VIII"
Visits Old Nose, and Together They
Recall the Happy Old Times.
The old time plantation songs of the
slavery days have about passed away,
and the negroes now cut the original
melodies into scrappy discords and mi
nor notes. A negro had rather strike
minor note than to rub the waistband
of his pants against we'll filed table
and eat. 1t seems that the peculiar tone
holds a fascination for him which can
not be overcome. There is always some.
thing to interest you when you can hear
a genuine old time plantation song as
sung by the aged slave negroes, when
heart and soul are united in the song.
! have spent many pleasant hour
listening to the quaint songs of an old
gray headed negro on my grandfather's
farm as he would rasp the screeching
chords in accompaniment ON his banjo
When he would sing, he would get a
humming start with the chords, and
begin with long drawn out note, rear
way back, pat his feet and shake his old
gray head. He enjoyed singing, and /
enjoyed listening. l would take him
little pieces of colored paper and all the
colored glass could find to get him to
sing for me and to repeat the farfamed
verse of ALTERATION, did you ever see
a possum in a papaw patch a-pickin
up papaws and a-puttin 'em in his
pocket to make papaw pie for his
papa?" This is the JOY Of his life, and
it never grew old or tiresome to him to
repeat it.
Nose was his name, and not long
since concluded to pay him visit and
to hear again the songs I had SO enjoyed
when child. / found his cabin and he
was at home, being unable to get about
much. / shook hands with the honest
old negro and sat down. The light
which came into his face showed how
welcome / was, and we had a long talk.
Finally asked him to take the dusty
banjo from the wall and give me a few
strains of "Nigger Foot In Ashes" at
lively clip. He did as l asked, and the
old time vigor came upon him again.
After playing awhile l asked him to
sing me the corn shocking song the
"niggers' used to sing while they
danced the rabbit Dance" after the
corn was all husked and the white folks
had gone to bed. He was in fine spirits,
and, with his head way back on his chair
and his feet extended to keep time with
the banjo, he sang:
"Early one mornin on my massa's farm
Cut dat pigeon wing, Lily janet
heard dem chickens a-givin de alarm.
Shake yo' feet, Miss Lily janet
Shake yo' feet, niggers; it'll soon be day.
Shoot along lively, Miss Lily Jane!
Massa ketch us dancin, there'll - to payl
We got to dig taters and hoe dat corn.
Hit dat bubble shuttle, Lily janet
You'd better DO a-humpin, COZ it soon be
morn.
Shake dat balmoral. Lily janet"
After Nose finished singing this song
an eight inch grin played across his face
from ear to ear, his eyes sparkled and
the old negro was happy again as II the
young folks. had gone through their
dancing while he sang. He said, Mas
sa Will, de best days OBJ de old nigger's
life am done gone, but when think OF
de good old times we had befo' de wal
desc bones oh mine gifts young, and
want to git right up and hit de jig stel
ag'in like / use to do"
I told him / was something OF
dancer myself, and that if he would
cut down lively ON the old "barnyart
cackle'' would show him few step
in Jig dancing. This tickled the wrln
killed. faced coon, and he sang and playe'
In earnest:
:. Booster in de chicken coop CROWN TO day
Horses inrde stable go nay, nay, nay, q
Ducks in de yard go quack, quick, quAci
Quack,
And de goose goes filley .I-feei
"Pigs in de pen keep a-squealin TO slop,
Big dogs barkin like dey never will STOP
Guineas in de tree go pot-rack, pot-rack'
And de goose goes flley -I-fee"
I stopped him because l was out
breath, and he laid back in his chat
and laughed till his sides were aching
pulled out rabbits foot and tosse
It to him, and the effect was magica
He jumped "three feet ON q rise and 81
feet on the stretch" and gave WHO'D
which was equal to a Comanche chle1 7
After his fright was over he told mt
whatever did, not to put any more
those hoodoos ON him. did not inten
to brighten him, but wished to see
the superstition he had possessed
his young days had departed from mn
gave him a shining dollar for scarln
him so, and he was himself again. W
had had fine time in the few hours
had staid with him, and 1 asked MI
to pick up his banjo again and play an
sing the tune he used to call MIR. kln
ble." His bony fingers raked across u
strings again, and he sang the guam
song had enjoyed often when chic
"You can't guess what we had TO supper
Cum rop-strop-bottle, Mr.. kimplel-
Black eyed peas and bread and butter:
Cum rop-strop- Mr.. Kimoie'
"Beefsteal, ham and mutton chop
Cum a rop-strop- bottle, Mr.. hiinoie'-
Make a nigger's lips go fippity mop;
Cum rop-strop-bottle, Mr.. kimbeT
And after each verse he sang the Gu