ON THE TRAIL OF NEGRO FOLK-SONGS

A Collection Of Negro Traditional & Folk Songs with Sheet Music Lyrics & Commentaries - online book

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	NEGRO BALLADS	91
	"From the refrain I am inclined to connect this version with that once widely sung ditty:
	" Funniest thing that ever I seen, Was a tom-cat stitchin' on a sewin' machine! Oho, my baby, take a-one on me I " Sewed so easy and he sewed so slow, Took ninety-nine stitches on the tom-cat's toe. Oho, my baby, take a-one on me! "The above words were subject to much juggling, and I am sure that many different words could be found, but I doubt if any would pass the censor save the two stanzas that I have given. The tune to the tom-cat song is slightly different from that of the regular Hop-Joint, and the refrain, or chorus, of so many of the songs will differ some­what. "Here are more stanzas to The Hop-Joint, 'Refined edition!' " Went up to the courthouse, My pistol in my hand; Says to the sheriff, * I'ma guilty man!' Oh, my baby, why don't you come home? " The judge he struck sentence, The jury they hung. ' Gimme ninety-nine years, judge, For that awful crime I done!' Oh, my baby, why don't you come homer
	"Dr. Shaw sings the refrain, "Looking for my little baby, Honey, why don't you come home? " A ballad recounting the adventures of another colored bravo with a reckless gun is Stagolee. We may note how vivid (in the Negro's