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American Ballads and Folk Songs
they were ready to heave, threw back his head and sang. On the first and next to the last beat of every verse, each man threw his weight against his bar; the refrain was repeated until Henry, who had kept his eye to the rail meanwhile, shouted his directions about the next "johnnyhead." At that signal the song was broken off, the gang stopped heaving, and the whole scene was repeated a few yards on down the track. The accented syllables represent the concerted movements of the gang against their lining bars. |
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Leader: Ho, boys, is you right?
Gang: I done got right. Leader: Ef I could I sholy would,
Stan* on de rock where Moses stood. Chorus: Ho, boys, cancha line 'em, Ho, boys, cancha line 'em, [15] |
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