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LULLABIES |
153 |
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Who's been a-courtin', Who's been a-tryin', Who 's been a-courtin' dat gal o' mine?
Chorus
There are certain lullabies that are distinctly expressive of the colored mother's love for her own child, and made to be sung to pickaninnies, not white babies. One such was sent me by Howard Snyder from his Mississippi plantation, the place which has appeared distinctively in his "Plantation Pictures" in various magazines. This is a combination of the old counting nonsense jingle, "Eenie, Meenie, Miny, Mo," and an overflowing of mother love.
Leddle bit-a Niggeh an' a great big toe,
Meenie miny mo. Leddle bit-a Niggeh wid a great big fis',
Jes' de size fo' his mammy to kiss. Leddle bit-a Niggeh wid big black eyes,
Bright as de sun up in de skies. Leddle bit-a Niggeh wid big black eyes,
Meenie minie mo.
Two fragments marked "Baby Songs" were given by a colored woman in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to Mrs. Cammilla Breazeale, who sent them to me. One can see the nodding, kinky head falling over on the mother's breast as "Mammy" croons these words:
Toolie low, toolie low, loolie low,
I am Mammy's little black baby child.
Toodie noodie, mammy's baby, Toodie noodie, mammy's child, Toodie, noodie, toodie.
One cradle-song of this character was contributed by Mrs. Richard Clough Thompson, of Arkansas. Mrs. Thompson has made considerable study of the Indian and Negro folk-lore of her state and has collected a number of songs, some of which she loaned for this volume.
Cradle Song
0 Lulie, O Lulie, if you please, Let me fall upon my knees;
Rock de cradle,
Rock de cradle,
Rock de cradle, Joe. |
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