Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-25
SONGS OF SLAVE DAYS.
OId-Time Plantation Melodies Have
Passed Away.
Uouisvllle COurier-JournaD

louisville Courier-JournaL)
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
minor notes a negro would rather
strike a minor note than TO rub the waist
band of his pants against n well-filled
table and eat. II seems that the pecu-
liar tone holds a fascination for him
which cannot be overcome. There Is
always something TO interest you when
you can hear a genuine old-time planta-
lion song as sung by the aged slave
negroes. when heart and soul are united
In the song 1t is natural Tor a negro
to sing. lie possesses a naturally clear
voice. and sings with his hands, feet,
and head. His music is generally or
the lively order, as his nature has al
ways been. and no trouble can rob him
of his happy disposition.
1 have spent many pleasant hour
listening TO the quaint songs of an old
gIay-headed negro on my grandfa;her's
farm, as he would rasp the screeching
chords in accompaniment on his banjo.
When he would sing he would get q
humming start with the chords, and
begin with a long -drawn-out note, rear
way back, pat his feet. and shake his
old gray head. lie enjoyed singing, and
1 enjoyed listening / would take him
little pieces of colored paper and all the
colored glass 1 could find to get him to
sing for me, and to repeat the far-famed
verse Of ALTERATION: Did you ever see
'possum in a pawpaw patch, a-pickin'
up pawpaws and a-puttin' 'em in his
al mo- grra1l rfta
papa? This IS the JOY of his life, ana
it never grew old or tir6some to him 10
repeat It.
Nose was his name, and not long
since / concluded TO pay him a visit.
and to hear again the songs / had so
enjoyed when child. ] found his cabin
and he was at home. being unable 10
get about much. i shook hands with
the honest old negro, and sat down. The
light which came into his face showed
how welcome l 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 ''Nigser Foot in Ashes" at
a lively clip, He did as / asked and
the old-time vigor came upon him again.
After playing awhile. / asked him TO
sing me the constructing song the
ringers" used TO sing while they danced
the rabbit dance" after the corn was
gone TO bed. He was in fine spirits, ana
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, Lizy Jane;
l heard dem chickens a-giyin' de alarm,
Shake 20 feet, Miss Lily Jane.
Shake yo feet, niggers, itll soon be day,
Shoot along lively, Miss Lily Jane;
Massa ketoh us dancin'. therein be - 10
pay,
We got TO dig 'taters ana hoe dat corn,
Hit dat double-shuffle, LILY Jane;
You'd better be a-humpin. coz 1t soon
be morn,
Shake dat balmoral, Lily Jane.
After Nose finished singing this song
an eight-inch grin played across his face
from ear to ear. bis eyes sparkled. and
the old negro was happy again as II the
young folks had gone through their
dancing while he sang He said: "Massa
WIN, dc best days oh de old nieger's
life am done gone. but when / think Oh
de good old times we had befo de wah
desc bones oh mine gets young. and :
want to git right up and hf de Jig steI
agen like use 20 do" u he told me
of how he was considered oest dancer
In his section. and that there wasn't r
buck anywhere around who could hold
him a light
| told him ! was something OF a dancer
myself. and that II he would cut down
lively on the old "barn-yard cackle," |
would show him few steps IN Jig
dancing. This tickled the wrinkled-face
coon. and he sang and played in earnest
Rooster in de chicken coop CROWN TO
day.
Horses in de stable so nay, nay. nay;
Ducks in de yard so quack. quack. quack
And dc goose goes flley-i fee.
"PIgs In de pen keep a-squealin' TO- s'-p.
Big dogs barkin' like dey never will stop:
Guineas in dc tree so pot-rack, pot-rack,
And de goose goes filley-I fee"
/ stopped him because l was out Of
breath, and he laid back Ia his chair and
laughed til his sides were aching. pull
ed out rabbits foot and tossed 1t TO him,
and the effect was magical; he jumped
''tnree feet on a rise and six feet on the
stretch" and gave n whoop which was
equal to a Comanche chiefs After his
fright was over he told me. whatever
did. not 10 put any more OF those hoOdoos
on him. / did not intend 10 brighten him.
but wished to see II the superstition he
had possessed in his young days had de-