Chapter XIV

[57] All of the stanzas have this form, first two lines always
repeated.

Turning from the songs of construction or railroad gangs, some of the mixed songs, partly remnants of former years, partly products of sophistication, may be cited. There are many songs about the white man and the captain, excellent samples of which have already been cited in this chapter. Some were given in _The Negro and His Songs_ and many more are to be found. Indeed, songs about the white man may well constitute a separate chapter in a later volume. A stock joke among the older Negroes used to be that of telling how the white man always brought “nigger out behind.” The modern singer, albeit not always in joking mood, still thrusts “at” his “captain” or “boss” or “white man.” “Captain,” he sings, “you look mo’ lak farmer than railroad man,” and with considerable glee asks, “Captain, captain, where’d you come frum?” On the other hand, reminiscent of farm days and echoing current life, he still sings:

Niggers plant the cotton,
Niggers pick it out,
White man pockets money,
Niggers does without.

In another song the Negro complained that no matter if he worked all the time, “Boss sho’ bring nigger out behin’.” So now in some Georgia scenes he sings:

NOTHIN’ TO KEEP

Up at fo’ ’clock,
Work till dark,
Wages han,’
I’m de man.
Twelve a month an’ boa’d,
Lawd, twelve a month an’ boa’d.

Hope I die,
Mo’ I try,
I comes out
Owin’ boss mo’,
I comes out,
Lawd, owin’ boss mo’.

Plenty to eat,
Place to sleep,
All night to stray about;
But nothin’ fer a feller,
Lawd, nothin’ fer
A feller to keep.

EVERYBODY CALL ME THE WAGES MAN

Early in the spring I’m plowin’ my lan’,
Early in the spring I’m plowin’ my lan’,
Early in the spring I’m plowin’ my lan’,
Everybody calls me the wages man,
Baby, baby.

Next down de row with guano horn,
Next down de row with guano horn,
Next down de row with guano horn,
Never work so hard since I’ve been born,
Baby, baby.

Little bit later I swings de hoe,
Little bit later I swings de hoe,
Little bit later I swings de hoe,
I’se de nigger dat leads de row,
Baby, baby, baby.

Sack an’ basket all that I pick,
Sack an’ basket all that I pick,
Sack an’ basket all that I pick,
Never stop for nothin’, even if you sick,
Baby, baby.

White man in starched shirt settin’ in shade,
White man in starched shirt settin’ in shade,
White man in starched shirt settin’ in shade,
Laziest man that God ever made,
Baby, baby.

MISSUS IN DE BIG HOUSE

Missus in de big house,
Mammy in de yard.
Missus holdin’ her white hands,
Mammy workin’ hard,
Mammy workin’ hard,
Mammy workin’ hard.
Missus holdin’ her white hands,
Mammy workin’ hard.

Ol’ marse ridin’ all time,
Niggers workin’ ’roun’.
Marse sleepin’ day time,
Niggers diggin’ in de groun’,
Niggers diggin’ in de groun’,
Niggers diggin’ in de groun’.
Marse sleepin’ day time,
Niggers diggin’ in de groun’.