Chapter XV

Modern scenes, however different, are no less impressive. Whoever has seen a railroad section gang of five score Negroes working with pick and shovel and hammer and bars and other tools, and has heard them singing together will scarcely question the effectiveness of the scene. Likewise steel drivers and pick-and-shovel men sing down a road that is anything but “lonesome” now. Four pickmen of the road sing, swinging pick up, whirling it now round and round and now down again, movement well punctuated with nasal grunt and swelling song. Another group unloading coal, another asphalt, another lime, or sand, sing unnumbered songs and improvisations. Another group sings as workers rush wheelbarrows loaded with stone or sand or dirt or concrete, or still again line up on the roadside with picks and shovels. And of course there are the songs of the chain gangs already described, but nevertheless gang songs of the first importance. All these singers constitute the great body of workers and singers who sing apparently with unlimited repertoire. The selections in this chapter, as in the others, are representative in that they were taken directly from Negro singers and workers in the South during 1924 and 1925.

Among the most attractive of all the Negro workaday songs are those sometimes called “free labor gang songs,”[42] of which there are many. Some of these are reserved for Chapter VII in which many miscellaneous examples of songs to help with work are given. Other samples have been included in the “Songs of the Lonesome Road.” Examples of the melodies are given in Chapter XV. It will be understood, of course, that other songs such as _John Henry_, _Jerry on the Mountain_, _Lazarus_, are sung in this capacity, although classified primarily in other groups for the sake of better illustration.

[42] The Negroes use the term “free labor” to distinguish ordinary
work from convict labor.

“FREE LABOR” GANG SONG

Cap’n, did you hear ’bout
All yo’ men gonna leave you,
Nex’ pay day,
Lawd, Lawd, nex’ pay day?

Ev’y mail day,
Mail day, I gits letter,
From my dear ol’ mother,
She tell me, “Son, come home.”

That ol’ letter,
Read about dyin’.
Boy did you ever
Think about dyin’?

Then I can’t read it
Now for cryin’,
Tears run down,
Lawd, Lawd, tears run down.

Jes’ wait till
I make these few days I started,
I’m goin’ home,
Lawd, Lawd, I’m goin’ home.

Everywhere I
Look this morning,
Look lak rain,
Lawd, Lawd, look lak rain.

I got rainbow
Tied all ’roun’ my shoulder,
Ain’t gonna rain,
Lawd, Lawd, ain’t gonna rain.

Mike an’ Jerry
Come down main line Southern,
Didn’t stop to get
No water neither coal.

I done walk till
Feets gone to rollin’
Jes’ lak a wheel,
Lawd, Lawd, jes’ lak wheel.

Now ev’y time I,
Time I start ’round mountain,
My light goes out,
Lawd, Lawd, my light goes out.

I’m gonna buy me
Magnified lantern,
It won’t go out,
Lawd, Lawd, it won’t go out.

I got a wife,
Two-three children in mountain,
Cryin’ fer bread,
Lawd, Lawd, cryin’ fer bread.

O LAWD, MAMIE

O Lawd, Mamie,
Poke yo’ head out window,
Jes’ to see me fall,
Lawd, jes’ to see me fall.

I been fallin’
From my shoulder,
Lawd, I been fallin’
All day long.

O Lawd, Mamie,
If I make it
You shall have it,
If it’s all in gold.

I been fallin’
Ev’y since Mamie wus baby,
Now she’s grown,
Lawd, now she’s grown.

When we meet my
Little curly headed woman,
Bow yo’ head,
O Lawd, an’ tip yo’ hat.

If I make it
Through July an’ August,
O Lawd, I’ll be a man,
O Lawd, I’ll be a man.

HE-I-HEIRA

He-he-heira!
Look how my captain stan’,
Stand more like a farmer
Than he do a railroad man!

Oh, oh, oh!
If I had listen to what mama said.
I’d be at home now,
Lawd, in mama’s bed.

He-i-heira!
Believe I will
Take my pick,
Lawd, over on the hill.

Goin’ up town,
Hurry right back,
Gonna see Corinne
When she ball that jack.

Oh, oh, Lawd, oh,
Goin’ on up town,
Buy my gal a hat,
Lawd, buy my gal a hat.

She brought it back, Lawd,
Laid it on the shelf
Every time she turn around
Makes her wanter jazz.

Goin’ up town, Lawd,
Gonna walk in the yard;
Two-and-a-half hours to work,
Work ain’t hard.

O you, down, boys,
Yes, we goin’ down.
O you, down, boys,
Yes, we goin’ down.

I don’t know,
But believe I will
Make my home
In Jacksonville.

SECTION BOSS

Yonder come the engine
Ringin’ o’ the bell;
Engineer on the right,
Fireman on the left.

See the engine makin’ time,
See the engineer gone.
Fall off the car,
Throw off the tools.

Throw off the tools,
Let the engine go by.
If I could run like he runs,
I’d run an’ never stop.

See the train makin’ up speed,
See the cars go ’long.
If I had wings like that engine,
I could run an’ fly.

I could pull the bell,
I could blow the whistle,
I could pull the bell,
An’ let the engine run.

If I could run like he runs,
I never would quit,
I’d always railroad
I’d always run an’ fly.

The mind of the worker and wanderer is perhaps reflected better in his annals of the day’s work as expressed in his “captain” songs than anywhere else. Some of the “captain” songs have been sung until they are on the verge of folk songs; some approach the haven of the blues, and many more are in the formative stage. The examples immediately following in this chapter are combinations of all three, with the predominating mode that of combination and improvisation. Some of them are clearly songs of the chain gang as well as of free labor construction work. That they are fairly accurate portrayals of the worker and his task, of the captain and his ways, of the thoughts and customs of the worker and singer will be evident to any one who knows the field. To the uninitiated the laborer is merely a laborer, silent, reserved, certainly keeping back from the white man his innermost thoughts, wishes, and feelings. But hear him sing--hear him repeat the formal songs, hear him make new ones.

O CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN[43]

O captain, captain,
Where you been so long?
O captain, I been at home
An’ done got in trouble again.

O captain, captain,
Won’t you be kind?
Don’t work me so hard,
Captain, I been used to light work.

O captain, captain,
I ain’t used to no hard work.
O captain, captain,
Won’t you be light on me?

O captain, captain,
If you be light on me,
When I git back home
I won’t be hard on you.

O captain, captain,
Where we gonna work?
“Oh, we goin’ down the road,
Pick and shovel dirt.”

O captain, captain, call me
An’ I didn’ hear;
Captain took me back
To bodyguard.

O Lawd, captain, captain,
On the side of the bank,
Lawd, Lawd, buddy,
I’m too tired to work.

O captain, captain,
I done got too hot
Captain, O Lawd, captain,
Let po’ Shine rest.

Captain, O Lawd, captain,
I set down on a bank,
O Lawd, captain, captain,
Set down on a bank.

O captain, captain,
I cannot work no longer,
’Cause I’s done, O Lawd,
Lawd, Lawd, I’s done.

O captain, captain,
Po’ boy done got too hot,
O Lawd, captain, captain,
An’ I couldn’t make it go.

Captain, captain,
You got letter from my mother,
Captain, captain,
Read it all the way through.

Lawd, she say, “Son,
Lawd, come back home.”
Lawd, Lawd, she say,
“Son, come back home.”

Captain, captain,
Ain’t got no ready money.
Captain, O Lawd, captain,
Won’t you loan me some?

Sittin’ in dining room,
O Lawd, captain,
Sittin’ in dining room
In yo’ chair.

O Lawd, captain,
I aint too dumb,
Hear yo’ back door slam,
Lawd God a-mighty.

I got a letter,
Letter from my brown.
My brown she dyin’,
Lawd, Lawd, Lawd.

I got a letter,
Letter from my rider.
My rider was dyin’,
Lawd, Lawd, Lawd.

Lawd, gonna follow
My brown, Lawd, Lawd.
Gonna follow my brown
To buryin’ groun’.

[43] This song and some others in this chapter are excellent
illustrations of the chain gang sentiment becoming mixed with
ordinary “free labor” gang songs.

I’M GOIN’ BACK HOME

I can jerry,[44] I can jerry
All around the mountain.
Lord, I can jerry, I can jerry
All the way home.

Lord, I see my gal a-comin’,
Lord, to bring me my dinner.
Lord, I see my gal a-comin’,
Lord, I’m goin’ home.

Lord, she brought me something,
Lord, she brought me something good.
Lord, she brought me good dinner,
Didn’t know what it was.

Lord, I’m gonna buy me rubber-tire hack,
Lord, I’m gonna buy me rubber-tire hack,
Lord, I’m gonna buy me rubber-tire hack,
Goin’ home, take me right back.

I’m tired workin’, Lord,
Lord, I’m tired workin’.
Goin’ buy me rubber-tire hack,
Take me back home.

Lord, captain standin’,
He may hear me sing,
Lord, some old day
I’m goin’ back home.

Lord, I reckon I’ll sell my,
Lord, I reckon I’ll sell my rubber-tire hack
An’ buy me a Ford, Lord,
Buy me a Ford.

Lord, captain told me,
O Lord, captain told me,
Time to go to dinner,
Lord, we’re goin’ back home.

Lord, I got back home
An’ had my dinner.
Lord, I went and et,
Lord, I got back home.

Then ’bout half pas’ one
Captain call us all,
Say we got a-go back,
Lord, say we got a-go back to work.

Lord, some o’ these mornings,
Lord, some o’ these mornings,
Captain ain’t gonna hear me sing
’Cause I’m goin’ back home.

Sunshine in my back door,
Lord, sunshine in my back door,
Some o’ these mornings, Lord, captain,
I’m goin’ back home.

Lord, my gal cryin’ all day,
Lord, my gal cryin’ all day.
Lord, she made a pallet on floor
’Cause she’s feelin’ right bad.

Captain say, “O Shine,
When you go home,
Say, Shine, you comin’ back?”
Yes, captain, O Lord, captain.

Yonder come my girl,
Comin’ down the track.
Bring me good cool water,
Keep cool all day long.

I got sun low ’cross the field,
I got sun low ’cross the field plowin’.
Lord, Lord, he tol’ me,
O Lord, it was too hot.

Lord, took out the mules,
Lord, I took out my mules
An’ went straight home,
’Cause it was too hot.

[44] The meaning of this expression is uncertain. In other songs it
appears as “Hikin’ Jerry” or “Mike and Jerry.” There is a tradition
among the Negro workers that two large mules, named Mike and Jerry,
broke loose from their driver and hiked a remarkable distance in one
day. If this was the origin of the song, then “I can Jerry” is a
result of misunderstanding.

MY HOME AIN’T HERE, CAPTAIN

H-e-y- L-a-w-d, Lawd, Lawd,
O Lawd, Lawd, captain.

My home ain’t here, captain,
An’ I ain’t got to stay.

I’m goin’ back home, captain,
I’m long time sinner, goin’ back home.

Ol’ Aunty Dinah had candy wagon,
I ast her could I be her driver.

Lawd, Lawd, tol’ me “No,”
Lawdy, Lawd, tol’ me “No.”

O captain, captain, what’s matter now?
Ain’t thing matter, but I ain’t gwine.

Woke up dis mornin’ ’bout half pas’ fo’,
Cap’n call me, but I jes’ ain’t gonna go.

O Lawd, captain, captain,
How long you gonna hold dis job?

Lawd, captain you look jes’ lak new man
Comin’, Lawd, on dis job.

Cap’n, captain, will you send me some water,
Ain’t had none since dis long mornin’.

All I hate ’bout captain, Lawd,
He want to take me by de tent.

Captain, captain, do you drink co’n liquor?
“Yes, by God, but I ain’t got none now.”

Captain, captain, when you go to town,
Bring me back a God-damn dram.

Captain, captain, I won’t let on,
Lawdy, O Lawdy, captain, I won’t let on.

O Lawd, captain, captain, O Lawd,
Won’t you let me go home?

Captain tol’ me I have to wait,
O Lawd, till I work out my time.

Captain call me an’ I laugh,
Cap’n get shoe shine off my britches.

O captain, don’t think hard of me,
O Lawd, captain, I don’t mean no harm.

Captain, captain, don’t mean no harm,
Jes’ won’t carry on no fun.

Captain, what kin’ o’ state you come from?
Come from country or come from town?

Captain say, “I come out o’ town,
Lawdy, I’ll lay yo’ body down.”

Captain, captain, you look mo’ lak farmer
Than you look lak guard man.

CAPTAIN, I’LL BE GONE

O Lawd, captain, hurry, hurry?
Captain, you can’t take my time.
What’s the use o’ hurryin’?
’Cause I got a life time.

Captain, captain, what time o’ day?
Captain, captain, what time o’ day?
Say he look at Waterbury,
Throw his watch away.

Lawd, captain, captain, did you hear,
Lawd, captain, did you hear about it?
All your men gonna leave you,
All your men gonna leave you on next pay day.

On next pay day, Lawd,
On next pay day, Lawd.
Captain, all your men gonna be gone
On next pay day.

Captain gonna call me some of these mornings,
Lawd, I’m gonna be gone.
Captain gonna call me, go back home,
Lawd, Lawd, I’ll be gone.

Wake up one mornin about half pas’ fo’,
Ask captain could I git drink of water.
Wake up one mornin’ about half pas’ fo’,
Ask captain could I git drink of water.

Captain tol’ me to git my pick and shovel,
Git on down the line.
Captain tol’ me to git my pick and shovel,
Git on down the line.

Lawd, captain carried me to the road,
Tol’ me I had to work.
Tol’ my captain I couldn’t pick and shovel,
Captain told me have to carry me back to camp.

I ask the captain how long I got.
Captain told me git my shovel,
Say, “Git on down the line,
Lawd, git on down the line.”

Say I went to road, captain.
Captain put chains all ’round my legs.
I tol’ captain no use to chain me,
’Cause ain’t gonna run no mo’.

Captain say, “Yes, I know you won’t run,
’Cause I gonna chain you good.”
Lawd, say, “Yes, I know you won’t run,
’Cause I gonna chain you good.”

Captain, captain, little too hard on me,
Lawd, captain little too hard on me.
Captain, captain, I’ll be glad to git home;
I’ll never come this way no mo’.

Captain called water boy,
Water boy begun to laugh.
Cap’n got shoe shine
Off water boy’s pants.

Captain mus’ be big,
Weighs two-fifty pounds.
Captain, Lawd, mus’ be big,
Weighs two-fifty pounds.

Captain, captain, good long ways,
Lawd, captain, come from Chicago.
I ask the captain the time of day,
Say, “None of you damn business to know.”

IF I’D A-KNOWN MY CAP’N WAS BLIN’[45]

If I’d a-known my cap’n was blin’, darlin’,
If I’d a-known my cap’n was blin’, darlin’,
If I’d a-known my cap’n was blin’
I wouldn’ a-went to work till ha’f pas’ nine, darlin’.

Cap’n, cap’n, you must be cross, darlin’,
Cap’n, cap’n, you must be cross, darlin’,
Cap’n, cap’n, you must be cross,
Five-thirty an’ you won’t knock off, darlin’.

When I’m late an’ behin’, darlin’,
When I’m late an’ behin’, darlin’,
When I’m late an’ behin’,
I can’t go to work till ha’f pas’ nine, darlin’.

Why I love my cap’n so, darlin’,
Why I love my cap’n so, darlin’
Why I love my cap’n so,
Ask him for a dollar an’ he give me fo’, darlin’.

[45] For music see Chapter XIV.

I TOL’ MY CAP’N THAT MY FEET WAS COL’[46]

I tol’ my cap’n that my feet was col’.
“God damn yo’ feet, let the car wheel roll.”

Cap’n, cap’n, old Ben won’t pull.
“God damn his soul, put the harness on the bull.”

Cap’n Morgan and Bill Dolin come to line this track,
Pick it up and shake it back.

Cap’n, cap’n the track is wet.
“Knock ’er right on, black boy, till the evenin’ sun do set.”

Cap’n, cap’n, can you tell
The track is slick and cold as hell?

CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN, LET WHEELERS ROLL

Captain, captain, let wheelers roll,
Captain, captain, Lawd, let wheelers roll.

Told my captain hands an’ feet wus cold,
Say, “You ought-a warm ’em befo’ you come here.”

Captain call me early in mo’nin’,
Call me to shake six-hoss plow.

I told my captain, captain,
I could not shake dis plow.

O captain, captain, what time you gonna quit?
“’Tain’t none o’ yo’ business when I quit.”

Gonna buy me ticket, long as my long right arm,
Gonna catch dat train call Cannon Ball.

Goin’ to Atlanta, gonna spend de night,
Gonna catch dat train dey call Western Sight.

Goin’ to New York an’ I aint comin’ back,
Lawd, I ain’t gonna come back at all.

Say, I’m in trouble, Lawd, Lawd,
I don’t know when I’ll be back.

Say, if you want to see me, Lawd,
You’ll have to come where I am.

Say, I’m long way off, mama,
I ain’t comin’ back at all.

Have you ever seen risin’ sun,
Seen risin’ sun turn over?

Lawd, makes me feel low down,
Lawd, lak I’m on my las’ go-’round.

Lawd, I hate to see you go,
Make me feel so low down.

Lawd, Lawd, have you ever seen,
Lawd, wild cat hug a lion?

Say, hug him so hard, Lawd,
Wild cat hug him so hard.

Lawd, captain, I’m workin’ on road,
An’ I’m in trouble again.

Lawd, you won’t come see me,
An’ I’m workin’ in chains.

Lawd, I’m not comin’ home no mo’,
O Lawd, I’m not comin’ home no mo.

Now I don’t want you here no mo’,
Yo’ hair look lak curry comb.

I got brown woman better’n you,
Lawd, I don’t want you no mo’.

[46] For music see Chapter XIV.

’WAY UP IN THE MOUNTAIN

’Way up in the mountain
Diggin’ coal,
All I hates about diggin’ coal,
I can’t find my parole.

Peach and honey,
Rock and rye,
You can line track
If you try.

Goin’ up Church Street,
Comin’ down Main,
Huntin’ for a woman
That ain’t got no man.

Trottin’ Liza,
She come a-trottin’
By one this mornin’
With ’er head rag on.

Blues on my mind,
Blues all ’round my head.
I dream last night
That the man I love was dead.

I went to the graveyard,
Fell down on my knees.
I ask the grave-digger
To give me back my railroad man.

The grave-digger,
He looked me in the eye and said,
“I’m sorry to tell you,
But yo’ good man is dead.”

Thirty days in jail
With my back turned to the wall.
Please, Mr. Jailer,
Put another man in my stall.

I don’t mind stayin’ there
But I got to stay so long, so long,
Ever’ friend I had
Done shook hands an’ gone.[47]

[47] This stanza and the preceding one are also found in a popular
song, _Jail-House Blues_.

DON’T YOU GIVE ME NO CORNBREAD

I don’t want no cornbread, black molasses,
Supper time, O my Lawd, supper time.
Don’t you give me cornbread, black molasses,
Supper time, O my Lawd, my supper time.

Don’t let the ’gaiter
Beat you to the pone,
Give you mo’ trouble
Than days done gone.

Put ’em up solid
An’ they won’t come down.
When I gets in Illinois
I won’t be bothered with the lowland boys.

John the Baptist, he declare
That none but the righteous
Will be there
In the mornin’, oh, when I rise.

I got a woman
On Jennielee Square;
If you would die easy,
Let me ketch you there.

The reason I stay
With captain so long,
Ever’ morning he give me
Biscuits to rear back on.

Little Evaline
Sittin’ in the shade,
Figurin’ on the money
I done made.

Captain got a lugger
Tryin’ to play bad,
I’m goin’ to take it in the mornin’
If he makes me mad.

JULY’S FOR THE RED-BUG

July’s for the red-bug,
August for the fly,
I’m diggin’ for the bottom,
Bottom must be dry.

I ask my captain
What was the time of day.
Captain got so mad,
Threw his watch away.

I told my captain,
Captain, my feet was cold.
“Doggone your feet, Lawd,
Let the wheelbar’ roll.”

I told my captain,
Just to keep down trouble,
I reckon I must obey.
Here come the chain gang boss.

But after all there are no workaday songs superior to the gang songs, heave-a-horas, steel-driving songs, short pick-and-shovel songs, and the scores of other short specimens which accompany special tasks requiring hard work, team unison, or continuous effort. There is, of course, no attempt here to present even an approach to exhaustive lists. We have so far found no intimation of where the number of such songs will stop. But the examples which follow are adequate to continue the portraiture of the Negro as he works and as he sings.

BOYS, PUT YO’ HANDS ON IT

O boys, put yo’ hands on it,
O boys, put yo’ hands on it,
When I say go, boys, go!

O boys, put yo’ hands on it,
O boys, when I holler set it on time,
Everybody goes around.

Say pick up, boys, pick up high,
Goin’ line that track steel,
O boys, pick it up high.

Say, boys, when you get back here,
Pick up that steel,
Say, put your hands on it.

Say, boys, put your hands on it,
Everybody goin’ to jump at it.
Set it in the bed, boys.

Say, boys, raise your hand higher,
Says, boys, raise your hand higher,
Everybody goin’ to jump at it.

NEVER TURN BACK[48]

No mo’, oh, no mo’!
No mo’, oh, never no mo’!
My Lord
Be here.

I will never
Turn back,
Never turn back
No mo’, no mo’.

If you get there
Befo’ I do,
Oh, you can tell ’em
I’m comin’ too.

I will never turn back,
Never turn back no mo’.
An’ I would never turn back,
Never turn back no mo’.

Jesus my all
To heaven is gone,
An’ whom may I fix
My hopes upon?

No mo’, no mo’,
No mo’, never, my Lawd,
I would never turn back,
Never turn back no mo’.

[48] Here a spiritual theme is used as a gang song.

NO MORE

~No~--~more~,
~No~--~more~,
~No~--~more~,
O--~Lord~.

O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
~No~--~more~,

I’m--~through~,
I’m--~through~,
I’m--~through~,
O--~Lord~.

O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
I’m--~through~.

I’m--~tired~,
I’m--~tired~,
I’m--~tired~,
O--~Lord~.

O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
I’m--~tired~.

I’m--~goin~’,
I’m--~goin~’,
I’m--~goin~’,
O--~Lord~.

O--~Lord~,
O--~Lord~,
~Yes~, O--~Lord~,
I’m--~tired~.

ALL RIGHT

~All~--~right~,
O--~Lord~,
~All~--~right~,
~Push~--~on~.

~All~--~right~,
O--~Lord~,
~Let~’s--~go~,
~Little~--~mo~’.

~All~--~right~,
O--~Lord~,
~Get~--~it~--~over~,
~Let~’s--~go~.

~All~--~right~,
O--~Lord~,
~Get~--~around~--~it~--~boys~,
~Let~’s--~go~.

~All~--~right~--~boys~,
~Pick~--~it~--~up~,
~Gang~--~around~--~it~,
~Let~’s--~go~.

HELP ME DRIVE ’EM[49]

O King’s Mountain,
O King’s Mountain,
O King’s Mountain,
So high!

O run here, buddy,
O run here, buddy,
O run here, buddy,
O boy!

O help me drive ’em,
O help me drive ’em,
O help me drive ’em,
All day!

[49] This is an example of a steel-driving song. As the driver raises
his hammer he sings a line, then stops singing for a moment, brings
the hammer down with a grunt, then sings another line, and so on.
The technique is the same as the digging technique described in some
detail in Chapter XIV.

I BELONG TO STEEL-DRIVIN’ CREW

O shake ’em up, buddy,
An’ I’ll drive ’em down;
O shake ’em up, buddy,
An’ I’ll drive ’em down;
I belong to steel-drivin’ crew,
Lawd, I belong to steel-drivin’ crew.

O lovin’ buddy,
Where you been so long?
O lovin’ buddy,
Where you been so long?
I belong to steel-drivin’ crew,
Lawd, I belong to steel-drivin’ crew.

O BUCKEYE RABBIT

The rabbit run, the rabbit jumped,
The rabbit skipped the river.
O buckeye rabbit, hey, hey!
O buckeye rabbit, Susan!
O buckeye rabbit, hey, hey!
The rabbit skipped the river!

U--H, U--H, LAWDY[50]

U--h, u--h, Lawdy,
I wonder why
I got to live
Fer de by an’ de by.

U--h, u--h, Lawdy,
Don’t you bother me.
I’m always mighty happy
When I’m on a spree.

U--h, u--h, Lawdy,
U--h, u--h, Lawdy,
U--h, u--h, Lawdy,
U--h, Lawdy, u--h, Lawdy, po’ me!

[50] This is an example of a pick song, although it could be used, of
course, for almost any kind of rhythmic work. For a description of
the singing-digging technique see Chapter XIV.

THIS OL’ HAMMER

This ol’ hammer, hammer
Mus’ be loaded;
This ol’ hammer, hammer
Mus’ be loaded;
This ole’ hammer, hammer
Mus’ be loaded;
Do bear down,
Do bear down.

Bitin’ spider, where did
You leave Trottin’ Sallie?
Bitin’ spider, where did
You leave Trottin’ Sallie?
Bitin’ spider, where did
You leave Trottin’ Sallie?
In Birmingham, O Lawd,
In Birmingham.

WE ARE CLAMBIN’ JACOB’S LADDER[51]

Get ’em over yonder,
Get ’em long,
Get ’em short.
Lord, get ’em over yonder,
Get ’em over yonder.

We are clambin’, clambin’
Jacob’s ladder,
Jacob’s ladder.
Oh, we are clambin’ Jacob’s ladder,
Almos’ home, yes, almos’ home.

Every little roun’ gets
Higher and higher,
Higher and higher.
Every little roun’ gets higher and higher,
Almos’ home, home, almos’ home.

[51] Here a theme from a spiritual is made to do service as a pick
song.

REASON I STAY ON JOB SO LONG[52]

Reason I stay on job so long,
Lawd, dey gimme flamdonies
An’ coffee strong.

Reason I love my captain so,
’Cause I ast him for a dollah,
Lawd, he give me fo’.

Reason why I love Boleen,
She keeps my house
An’ shanty clean.

Why I like Roberta so,
She rolls her jelly
Like she do her dough.

[52] For music see Chapter XIV.

HOT FLAMBOTIA AN’ COFFEE STRONG

Reason I stay on job so long,
Oh, reason I stay on job so long,
O Lawd, reason I stay on job so long:
Hot flambotia an’ coffee strong.

Hot flambotia an’ coffee strong,
Yes, Lawd, hot flambotia an’ coffee strong.
O Lawd, hot flambotia an’ coffee strong,
Reason I stay on job so long.

I’M GOIN’ ON[53]

I’m gonna row here,
I’m gonna row here,
I’m gonna row here few days longer,
Then, Lawd, I’m goin’ on.

Oh, I’m gonna row here,
Lawd, I’m gonna row here,
Yes, Lawd, I’m gonna row here few days longer,
Then I’m goin’ on.

Yes, Lawd, I’m goin’ on,
Then, Lawd, I’m goin’ on,
Yes, Lawd, I’m gonna row here few days longer,
Then I’m goin’ on.

[53] This song has been heard also as “I’m on road here few days
longer” and “I’m gonna roll here few days longer.” “Row” may well be
a corruption of “road” or “roll.”

I DON’T WANT NO TROUBLE WITH DE WALKER[54]

I don’t want no,
Want no trouble with de walker.
I don’t want no,
Want no trouble with de walker.
I wanta go home,
Lawd, Lawd, I wanta go home.

Oh, me an’ my buddy
Jes’ came here this mornin’.
Wanta go home,
Lawd, Lawd, wanta go home.

I can drive it,
Drive it long as anybody.
Wanta go home,
Lawd, Lawd, wanta go home.

Cap’n, did you hear about,
Hear about two your womens gonna leave you?
Wanta go home,
Lawd, Lawd, wanta go home.

I’m gonna roll here,[55]
Roll here a few days longer.
I’m goin’ home,
Lawd, Lawd, I’m goin’ home.

Cap’n an’ walker,
Walker been raisin’ san’.
Cap’n told walker
He could git ’im another man.

Lawd, dey got my buddy,
Buddy an’ his forty-fo!
Next ’lect’ocution
Dey’ll git him sho’.

[54] This is a pick song commonly heard around Chapel Hill, N. C. The
“walker” refers to the walking boss or overseer on the job. The first
two lines of each stanza are repeated as shown in the first stanza.
For music see Chapter XIV.

[55] See footnote, p. 112.

I DON’T WANT NO CORNBREAD[56]

I don’t want no,[57]
Want no cornbread, peas, an’ molasses;
I don’t want no,
Want no cornbread, peas, an’ molasses,
At supper time,
Lawd, Lawd, at supper time.

Oh, hand me down a
Can o’ corn an’ tomatoes,
For my meal,
Lawd, Lawd, for my meal.

My little woman,
She don’t treat me like she used to.
No she don’t,
Lawd, Lawd, no she don’t.

She used to feed me,
Feed me on biscuits an’ butter
For my meal,
Lawd, Lawd, for my meal.

She used to give me,
Give me lots o’ huggin’ every mornin’.
Now she don’t,
Lawd, Lawd, now she don’t.

[56] This is sung to the same tune as the preceding song, _I Don’t
Want No Trouble With the Walker_, the music of which is given in