PEANUT-PICKIN' SONG *

(Refrain)

You kin do jes'-a what you please
I's gwine ter pick off-a Massa's peas,
I's gwine ter pick off-a Massa's peas,
An' denI's gwine Home.

(Verse)

I can fill ma basket if I choose,
Den I's gwine home
Somebody gwine give me Christmas shoes,
Den I's gwine home
Two red han'k'chiefs an' a walkin'-cane,
Den I's gwine strut down de Big House lane,

(Repeat Refrain)

Dat ol' possum is up de tree,
Den I's gwine home
I bet he's waitin' dere fer me,
I's gwine ketch him 'less he flies,
Den talk 'bout dem dumplin' pies!

*Negro Folk*Songs- Hampton Series nos. 6716, 6756, 6766.
Book 4 page 10. Recorded by Natalie Curtis-Burlin

57

WHAT YOU GONN' DO?

What yuh goin' do wen de craw-fish gone, Muh honey?
What yuh goin' do wen de craw-fish gone, Muh baby?
What yuh goin' do wen de craw-fish gone,
Goin' a thro' my line in de craw-fish pon'.

Muh honey?

What yuh goin' do wen de meat give out, Muh honey?
What yuh goin' do wen de meat give out, Muh baby?
What yuh goin' do wen de meat give out?
Goin' stan' on de cawnduh wid muh mouf poked out,

Muh honey?

Grease muh heel wid ede hog-eye land, Dis mawnin';
Grease muh heel wid de hog-eye land, Dis mawnin';
Grease muh heel wid de hog-eye land,
Sent slippin' an slid in' thoo de w'ite-folks yand,
Muh honey.

WITNESS

270

Refrain)

Ma soul is a witness for my Lord,
Ma soul is a witness for my Lord
Ma soul is a witness for my Lord
Ma soul is a witness for my Lord.

O1' Noah was a witness for my Lord,
O1' Noah was a witness for my Lord
O1' Noah was a witness for my Lord,
O1' Noah was a witness for my Lord.

Verse)

You read in de Bible, you understand',
Noah was a righteous man,
De Lord appeared to him in the dark,
Commanded Noah to build the ark
Den Noah was a witness.

(Repeat Refrain)

THE GREEN ASPIRES SPIRITUALS

Hall Johnson

Page 22

282-8

MY LORD SAYS HE'S GWINETER RAIN DOWN FIRE.

My Lord, (My Lord) My Lord, (My Lord,)
My Lord Says he's gwine-ter rain down fire;
My Lord, (My Lord,) My Lord, (My Lord,)
My Lord says he's gwine-ter rain down
My Lord says he's gwine-ter rain down fire.

Gabriel, (Gabriel,) Gabriel, (Gabriel,)
Gabriel blow yo' silver trumpet;
Gabriel, (Gabriel,) Gabriel, (Gabriel,)
Gabriel blow yo' silver,
Gabriel blow yo' silver trumpet.

Moses, (Moses,) Moses, (Moses,)
Moses smote de Red Sea over;
Moses, (Moses,) Moses, (Moses,)
Moses smote de Red Sea,
Moses smote de Red Sea over.

Pharoah, (Pharoah,) Pharoah, (Pharoah,)
Pharoah an' his host goet drounded,
Pharoadh, (Pharoadh,) Pharoah, (Pharoah,)
Pharoah an' his host got drounded,
Pharoah an' his host got drounded.

Petter, (Peter,) Peter, (Peter,)
Peter on de Sea o' Galilee;
Peter, (Peter,) Peter, (Peter,)
Peter on de Sea, Sea
Peter on de Sea, Sea, Sea.

Take yo' (take yo') Take yo' (take yo')
Take yo' net an' foller me,
Take yo' (take yo') Take yo' (take yo')
Take yo' net an' foller,
Take yo' net an' foller me.

TURKEY IN THE STRAW

(Refrain)

Turkey in the straw,
Turkey in the hay,
Roll 'em up and twist 'em up a high tuck-a-haw,
and hit 'em up a tune called
Turkey in the straw.

(Verse)

As I was a-gwine down the road
Tired team and a heavy load
Crack my whip, and the leader sprung:
I says dad-day to the wagon-tongue.

Repeat Refrain

Went out to milk and didn't know how,
Milked the goat instead of the cow
A monkey sittin' on a pile of straw
a winkin' at his mother in-law.

Repeat Refrain

Met Mister Catfish comin' down stream,
Says Mister Catfish, 'What does you can?'
Caught Mister Catfish by the snout,
And turned Mister Catfish wrong side out.

Repeat Refrain

Extra Verses.

Came to the river and couldn't get across
Paid five dollars for an old blind horse
Wouldn't go ahead, nor wouldn't stan' still,
So he went up an' down like an old sw-mill

As I came down the new cut road,
Met Mister bullfrog, Met Miss Toad,
And every time Miss Toad would sing
Old Mister Bullfrog cut a pigeon wing.

Oh, I jumped in the seat, and gave a little yell
The horses run away, broke the wagon all to hell;
Sugar in the gourd and honey in the horn
I never was so happy since the day I was born.

ROLLIN ALONG IN SONG

J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON

Page 139

I BEEN WORKIN' on de LEVEE

## Refrain

Oh, I been workin' on de levee,
All de live-long day;
I been workin' on de levee to pass de time away.
Don't you hear de whistle blowin'
Rise up so early in de morn.
Don't you hear de cap'n shoutin',
"Dinah, blow yo' horn"?

## Verse

Oh, sing a song of de city;
Roll dat cotton bale
Darkies ain' half so happy
As when dey's out of jail.
Norfolk for its oyster-shells,
boston for its beans;
Charl'ston for its rice an' corn,
But for yaller gals New Orleans.

(Repeat Refrain)

I once did kno' a girl name Grace,
While workin' on de levee;
She done bring me to dis sad disgrace,
A workin' on de levee.

(Repeat Refrain)

## Rolling along in Song

J. Rosamond Johnson Page 144