The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-24
L. D. NEWELL & SON, Westminster and Eddy SITS.
SONGS OF THE SLAVE DAYS.
Vandalism of Modern Negroes In Deal
Ing With the Old-Time Melodies


The old time plantation songs Of the
slavery days have about passediaway. and the
negroes now cut the original melodies into
scrappy discords and minor notes. 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 pc
Guitar tone holds fascination for him which
cannot 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. 1t is natural for a
negro TO sing, he possesses a naturally clear
voice, and sings with his hands, feet and
head. His music Is generally OF the lively
order, as his nature has always been, and no
trouble can rob him Of his happy disp osition.
have spent many q pleasant hour listening
90 the quaint songs OF an old gray-headed
negro on NY grandfather's farm, as he would
rasp the screeching chords in accompaniment
on his banjo. When he would sing he would
get 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 l enjoyed
listening / would take him little pieces OF
co!ored paper and all the colored glass
could find to get him to sing for me, and to
repeat the far-famed verse OF ALTERATION:
Did you ever sec a'possum in pawpnw
patch, q pickin up pawpaws and putin em
in his pocket 10 make pawpaw pie for MS
papa?" This is the Joy of his tlife, and IT
never grows old or tresone to him TO re-
peat it.
Nose was his name, and not long since
concluded to pay him visit and to hear
again the songs had so enjoyed when n 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 few strains of
Niger Foot in Ashes at a lively clip. He
did as asked and the old-time vigor came
upon HIM again. After playing while
asked him TO sing me the corn shucking song
the 'niggers" used TO sing while they danced
the rabbit dance" after the corn was all
husked and tho white folks" Ind gone 10
bed He was in fine spirits, and with his
head way back on his chair and his feet ex-
tended to keep time with the banjo, he sang:
Early one morning on my massa's farm,
Cut dat pigeon wing, i.izy Jane;
heard dem chickens givin' dc alarm,
Shake yo' feet Miss Lizy Jane.
shake y feet. niggers, it'll soon be dag,
Shoot along lively, Miss Lizy Jane;
Massa ketch Us dancin' there'll be -- 10 pay,
We got 10 dig 'taters and hoe dat corn,
Hit dat bubble. shuttle, Lizy Jane;
You'd bpttur be ahumpin', coz IL soon be
morn,
Shake dat balmorsl, Lizy Jane.
After Nose fnished singing this song an
eightinch 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 "Massa Will, de best days ob
dc old nigger's life am done gone, but when
think ob do good old times we rad bofo' do
wah, desc bones ob mine gets young, and
want to git right mp and hit de jig step like
use 70 do" Then no told how he was consid.
cred the best dancer In his section, and that
there wasn't buck anywhere around who
could hold him light.
told him was something of q dancer my.
solr. aud that IL be- would cut down lively ON
the old barn yard racklr." would show
him a few steps IN iis dancing. This tieklod
the wrinkled. .fared coon. and he sang and
played in earnest
Rooster in de chicken coop CROWN 70 day,
Horses la De stable ~ nay. nay, nay:
Ducks ia de ysrd go quack. qunck, qunck.
AMI de goose goes tlley liee
Pigs in de pen kcvp squcslin 10 slUp.
Big dogs barkin' like doy never will stop:
Guineas In de- tree go pot-Tsck, pot rack
And dc goose goes hlley lfee.
storle him because WAS out a brenth