Rodney Phillips interview with David Harris and Viola Harris

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. In this recording Rodney Phillips interviews his grandfather, David Dave Stanley Harris, about his career as a professional baseball player in the 1920s and 1930s. He discusses superstitions held by baseball players, including Babe Ruth, Heinie Manush, Joe Cronin, and Lou Gehrig. At minute 3:53, he recalls how the New York Giants manager, John McGraw, monitored the comings-and-goings of the players, and when the team dangled a man out a window. At minute 5:52, he remembers more superstitions and hijinks played by the baseball players. At minute 11:07, Harris sings Go Along Mule, which he sang to Alvin Crowder before games, discusses other songs the team sang, and sings part of a raunchy song. Next at minute 12:55, Harris tells two traveling salesman jokes. At minute 14:07, Harris sings country and blues songs including Jimmie Rodgers Rock all our Babies to Sleep and Blue Yodel No. 3, as well as There Aint No Use in Me Working So Hard. At minute 19:58, Harris remembers ghosts he heard in his childhood home, being left home alone, and walking through a cemetery. 22:30: Viola Harris tells a story about a preacher in a hotel, then David Harris tells more traveling salesman jokes and a police joke. At minute 27:30, David Harris sings songs he learned from his father, Baby in the Stable Loft, Old Dan Tucker, Little Brown Jug, Turkey in the Straw, and Who Broke the Lock on the Hen House Door. Harris ends at minute 30:45, reminiscing about memorable moments from his time playing for the Washington Senators and gives thanks for his time serving as an Atlanta police officer. David Dave Stanley Harris (1901-1973) was born in Summerfield, North Carolina, on a farm; after his mother died when he was six months old, his older sisters took over caring for him. At 14, he moved into Greensboro, North Carolina. In his teens, Harris worked at the Cone Export Company and played baseball in the Textile League. In 1920, he married Viola Rice (1903-1974); their children include David Stanley Harris Jr. (1927-2005), Arlene, Jimmie Harris, and Mildred Phillips. When he was 20, he joined the Greensboro Police Force. He played for Greensboro in the Piedmont League and professionally in both the American and National Leagues for the Boston Braves, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Senators. Between 1936 and 1966, Harris served on the Atlanta Police Force. AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue number ~~S teo ~). fQ9t 2 7 Source Field' (ContentDM) ~ Release form Yeso~~J Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yes~~) Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org. name> Georgia Folklore Collection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter information about the Title (interviewee name and date of interview) Description (bio on interviewee) -I (, $" (vi ~,r{" c.1, /'1'- , t ,Ac)\(,,) L tA,tl k,v\\ 0"'''- n, ~\'v, c' 'lref""!) , ~ C<}r~tl{\d": c) ~"-k \" '(. !leN,: .Jul'l ".l ""i~,J, Iti 'f"<' ,,\,\ 1",rJ C,j\J ,"'J< \(,,,,) ~h~, C'DI\.) 'E'Ipor! e ~f\t) 10.\- Creator (Enter either an individual's name or an organization) Collection Name (within the organization) ~,oc)V\~) i, i Burrison Folklore Class Georgia Folklore Archives Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) I(]"() (use only one) f-:--o-~---------+-'--J-I~~(,--) ---------------1 Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Object Type Media Format (VHS, reel to reel, etc Recording extent Year Span Image_ Text Text and image_ Video and sound Sound only~ Reel-reel Hours: 0 C'J Minutes: "3 II ~,' t1 From To Derivatives Access copy: Yes or No Recording clip Yes or No Access copy format: Clip extent: Time code for clip (h:m:s) Notes (interview summary) Beginning: DUo!) 6 ~CQ( i\ iy\ (' Ii " A-I>," U\T ,b ~Td 1.to ("c 9 -ie \\ jI ,"> '\ i i End: II .. ", '-- \' : ( () r 2 Recording issues (background noise, echo, static, etc.) Subject Information Enter 'Informat'Ion about the content 0 f theob)'Iect here: Subject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Subject Who Last Name First Name MI 'T\OS \ I'b ic) '" ~I!\\ecp '--~ "" 0 -\10 \\1 )A \(' '.- ,.,:> A Subject Country State County Town Local Name Location \J,(:)f\\ \lij{.\ Subject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you, (LOC subject headinas only) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See subject who for additional names rIle.u. ,"..1,.',-' J \.. ) i i " l rAre) \ I !', -'i,CUI I ' 3 Corporate names Geographic locations Topics ""7\ /c ')\ l.-~ / .-. 4 Folklore Collection Project Fall 1968 Rodney PhD] ips The problems ('Dco'mtered :t" thts proj ect did not stem from Ifliii:f:tculties tn locating an informant; my NTll grangfather seemed a good choice, The problems arosc from external interference, '1'he intervieH """S sat up through my grandmother and by the time of the intervle'd,she hed so inhIhted my tnformnnt that he ,lOuld AlloH no spontaneous t""ping but required that I ask my quest tons Hith the recorder turned off. Only Hhen he thought that he had something suIt,,,ble to say Hould he aD aI, mo to record. There Has Ii fecling of lirtifi< iality at first trwt ',ra3 not fully overcome until 'I he Scotch he vms DIpping had itd effect ~ UnfortuDo.toJ;y it ulso added to the exist:lnt fri9.gmenting and mJxing of mCttcl'ial .. It \!lould seem, ,:::8 \..1611, that Yrs" Hnrris I nttempts at detr:i.baliZr:l'bion of' l'{ro Harris Here partially successful. He \>las very reticcnt about obsceno stories ,."h11 e she Vll::lf:l in the house and 1vhen she vIas In. earshot the g of -ing Hould suddenly return and harshly. hll conecting HI''' done at my griCl1dfatber's home on Columbia Ddve :in Dei'alb County. 2 The inferm,c.nt, David Stanley Harrls'I\,Tuly 27, 1901, in the smtiH tOHn of SummerneIil, North Carolina. Summerfield is locntecl in Guilford County approximately 15 miles from GrElons-- boro, N.C. H thE! tImo of his birtl!, the femUy ] ived in [J very smcJl1 log cabj,Y) furm houso q lIts motber d:ied Hhm1 he \-Ja~) about six mo:ntJw old and ho H;~n cared for by o:.Lder sis..tors until he "'::i8 obOlJt s.i.x years old .. li'rorn tilat time on he Has forced by circumstemccs to bo 11 lImar\ of hls OI,m. II He staJI'ed on tho ftU'D1 until ho l1;":18 EJ,r)Ollt 14 ,YOD.rs old" He moved into Grce~~boro and HEm't to Horl--i cd. the Cono E;yport Compan;y (at that time the largest during thIs time he begnn pl:aying baseball ,lith ,J S "ndiot t6em in the Textile L6ugne. He HIlS offered 3 job on the Greenshoro Police Foroe \4hEm he ,""s t>lont;y. He aecept.ed, but. he ,,180 centlnued to play bliweba.l1. He \1<18 soon given " cont.ract to play for Greensboro in tho Piedmont League. In his career he played :i n bot.h the American and National Leagueo (md i 8 the onl~ pla:yer ever to hit et home run his first t1m6 ~,t bicd~ in both llcagu8s. In 193E, he ;joined tho AtlLnta Poli.co Force and served for 30 Y08TS untiJ h:lS retlrsTnorrt, in 1966* He looks not 67 j' but about 50 and is in better co.rlditio"(\ than Jl'1un of 30 and 1,0 .. He :'itiJJ infJists on \.Iorlctng ovr:Jy dF.y, if not on l"'ogn1,3J" constrtlction job, then on something aTOUY1d tt'6 house .. 3 000. "Hall the only thing that we did when ;Ie's plsyin baseball ,TaS that onst in a. ",hile we Id be walkin down the street, we'd see a hair pin an >le 'd pick that up an ssy that WaS a base hit." 005. "And II lot 0 ball players ",ould, gain to the outfield, they ",auld step on first base. They ",auld, uh, say that '.Jas good luck to em. An comin in from the outfield they \;ould step on second base an along lIke that. An thon in later innings you "'ould, uh, go up to the plate an you would a spit in your hands or you "'ould a hit your shoes ,lith spikes an things like that." 016. "\,e had oneOOH plsyer on our bell club that carried rabbits foot, which's naJUe "as H~nie 11anush. An he "eE a great left fielder, an he Hould lay his glo~ve in a certain spot co~in in from the that glo~ve, it'd make outfield an if anybody ,[ould bother y w-{. Henie mad. Then ~ had a boy by the nlline of Hest, you knoH, He Has playin center field an he Has var,Y peculiar about "here he laid his glotve. He would lsy it on the chalk line comin in an from one jnnin to innin. Then we had a fella playin sho:trtstop that would, would 'nt leave his glof;ve on the field at all, he Hoald-comin in. His name Has Joe Cron~in, and at that tIme Joe Cronin was a great short4 stop an our manager, but he "'[1-8 8nperstitions$ li1hen fW goes to tlie ple:te, he would turn his hat Ill"ound ,end ho \Jould kindy, uh, shake his hoad to n certain side an then he Hould dig up dirt in the bacJ{field of his foot, then he Hould, uh, hit the pJ at" 11 coupJ e a times Em t,hen he 'lOuJd stop." 038. " 'They was superstitious an they, the;\, thought that if you moved thet glotve from one place to another, it would bring em bad luck. They did tnt want anything like that to h"ppen. They would try to put it in a certa:Jn spot, 1m they wanted that glo$ve to stay thero untH they picked it up again. I ]mow a lot a times that the infielders would kick somo of tbe glo~VE'" around a.n the ball players Hould get ver;\, angry abent that at tbat pl1yticular time. So I remember a timo Hhen Ruth, Hith the Yankees, would come in and play ,lith us and, uh, an he IJaB Clgainst us - of cours" H" HaS playin against him and he Hould come in and he ,"ould hring his glol!.ve all the Hay to tho cluhhouse. And then, uh, Lon Gherig ldas a first basEJman at that time and Lon l'las very superstitious about th is and that lind he '"ould lay his gloi)-'1c in a certain spot -al-l the time an would dare anybod;)' to move it. Gherig Has a big man an he demanded these things at that tiJrre." 073. IT At that partlcuJar time l'-1cGraw was the manager of the Gi8nts and he IWS ver,/ partIcular of his ball players and he \;6nt"d em In b;{ eleben til irty at nights. He used to h"ve " house man in each city tha.t Hould check in the ball p1"yers at a certain time. ,4ncl If the b"lJ players dlid 'nt g:tt in at t.) that particul"r time, then this man would equak on em aXld tell the ""'mag,,r. Th" neyt daY~h" manager would know all th"t they done. Durin th"t time, and in Chic"go, I rememb"r one tim" that we was play1n there and Moranv:tlJe lind a bunch of' em got the h011S" detective up 1n the room ,m they got to telkin to him and they stri.pped him dif his clothes, they tied sheets to his legs, hung him out th" winder and at that particular time if somebod;y on the street had 'nt, \lb, squ~e" about him haJ1gin A out the winder hollerIn he \>!ould a spent the night there. IT 5 129. "One afternoon We ,las playin against the Redsox B.n "Ie had a catcher by name d Aynsmith was catcher, an he walked out to the mound, it Has dark and he said: Halter (\>Jalter Johnson) he says, "Ie have t\.10 strikes rold ODO ball on this hitter, sdd now l",s, the umpire's complaini n "bont it bein dark, the batter's compl"inin about it bein dark - he says I'll tell y" what "le'l1 do. He says l' 11 t.eJ.e-tll,,-Ba;t,-al'l give yon the, uh, sign an 1'11 take the ball and when I give you the sign to pi.tcg, you wind up and turn loose an I'll hit my gloove with the ball rol we'll soe what they say abont thd,. So he did. And, \lh, at that pa.rticuIDr time the balcome in and, uh, Ecldjoe A;ynsmith hit his gloove an the mriD ea;ys strike three. The batter says, where \,,"3 it at 8.nd the umpire says, '>Jell, 1 don't knO"I, but I hM.rd it." 6 155. "H" (Ty Cobb) ,muld com" to the ball park. H" would sU out on, uh, the "atio there where "'e had our trunks an things sitting an he ,{auld have about a h<~.lf 8. dozen pairs of shoes Iilld he '40uld be havin a Httle fi1e sharpening those spikes on those shOGs. And we'd S8.y to him, we'd sayl Ty, Hhat are you doing? He'd say' Itlell, says if you get in my way this afternoon, says by God, I'll sho'" yoU. So he would cut you dO;Jl1 to his siz" and then he would fight you on the other hand, ,if you ;"mted to plBy he ",ou] d play, an :if you 'vented to fight he '/ould fight." 7 ~~ /107. "Of course, he (Hogers Hornsb;\,) Has superstitious. At nigl~ He'd be walkin do,rn the street; he would Halk on one side the street an if you \1a8 Halkin facemn him, he Hould cross over to tbe otber side to keep from talkin to anyone. He Hl'Ilked elone at night, he plsJ1ed alone a.t da.ytime, he I-Ias a great ballplayer, but he Hns all for Hornsby an that Has it .And then, uh, be had a team -- mate by name 0 Jim Bottomy, Hhich Has a great ball player atibat time. fmd be l1ecS uspitions; l1h, uh, superstitions. And he \'lou1d turn his cap aroung backwards fmd pla;y as if he Has a catcher at thDt time So that marIo him look funny out th.ore on firEli. base. But he Has a great 1".')13.11 plr;.;yer and a great 1(7. "Cobb would have a certain bome run hitter." ~ type b at he Hould " use durin the game snd i.f anycne touched that bat before the ball game he Hould 'nt use it. He Hould go back in the clubhouse an he Hould get him another bat. Then He had a fella by the name of HNlellman on that S1>me ball club \1hich HM [, great bl>11 plaJ'er and B.t the particular tIme he would Halk around third base to go to the left field. He Hould'nt cross the fIeld, he Hould go 12- down the sIdeline to left, field at that tIme. Be Has peculier about hIs stance at the plate. l~ Hould go up to tbe plate, he H01l1d dra,w a chalk Hne Hith his ~lI.t an he \,ould toe the line wUh hIs foot sn If it was 'nt exactly rIght he \"ould step out I1n he ;,ould rub hIs foot agl'dn SM"" thing over, Then we had 8l fe11a by 9 an he Hould do the n n 'fu1J~u. the name of FartIngIII, played dgbt field for Detroit Tigers, he was susUtious. H" ;,eigbed hlo-hundert an thIrty-five pounds. lin the time he w"lked up to the plate he would dIg 8l hole, uh, ,lith hIs right foot, And i.f th at hole ;,ould, uh, look, did' nt look exactly dgbt he ',ould step out of the plate agaIn and c"ll time. Them the pItcbeT' ;,o~)ld come over an ask the umpire "bat "as "rang ;,Itb, uh, him at the plate, he "auld 'nt stand up at the plate - then the umpIre ",ould tell the pHcher to go back to the mound an start pitchIng. If Farthing~nl cUd 'nt get :in then he ;'ould o call it a strike, Then Farthingill \,ould \",.it till he gj.t ready to thro;, the b,.l1~ then he ;,ould step :in and probably he ",auld hH thE! b"ll to right field. n 10 tCMwMJ ?07. II find at that particu] ar time, Alvin~wM superst.itious. 01'1 the bench I'd have to sit down and sing Al e. song and in the afternoons before the ball games I ,;ould stsrt si"gin to M.m: A man ln Georgia pulled a gun He taKen 8 shot at me The second time he shot at me ,Te passed through Tennessee. Oh, go along IOU] e, wo~t yo roll your eyes Y011 can change 8. fool but a doggone mule, 1:' a mule until he dles. Oh, go along mule, wont ya roll your eyes you. cc:~n change a fool but a doggone mLJle, is a mule until he dies. 1I 229. 11 And then there 'las one fen " liked to helve us sing thl!:.s song: We went down to Texas Bnd hit it rich * r,;P" The damned old cows till died ~the itch 3ine;in hip i diddle i diddle i day (-z.) I met a little girl on my homeward trail And I hit h"r right up ,for " little piece of tail ~'r:: ~.<tL ~j- ~I 3ing:in2""p i dIddle i diddle'j day] Nine days to come and nine days to lap .And I Kn_ dillOn well She'd give me the chp ( tLL " Singin@~Ji diddle i diddlei day."] "I, ~'f- ~-f.,,~: '6'1Y-" -'tv I' 11 239. "As He 1"as travelin through the states goin from tNJn to toHn 11e met a salesrnall d01m in Florida one time and he Has talkin about his children goin to school. And at that partichobby "as of their fathers. One of the little boys sEdd, Holl, uh, my father is " bi3seba.11 player and the ether'un said, my father is a travoJjn salesm,,,n. The otherh said my fathor is a Hindo" shado man. So the" got up the one mornin an the little boy Hcnt to school. aYl he saId to tho teacher, be sa;ys my sa;ys the te.echer says to 'I\,\e l:ittl.e boy, say whats your father's hobby, !Ie; says He11, says, I hl"lard my father say last n:ight, sa;ys momma, 'Jays, pull. dO\<!l1 the \Ji.ndoH shade, says, let's tear off t1 pJ..ece. " 256. "And say to his on another instsnceft,hat I heard a traveling salesman r.-. ,w.p) son, uh, 'Hell what does your teacher say to you to/' day. S~ys, "ell, said she wanted to kno" your hobby so 1 told her you Was a travel.ing salesman and says, uh, - she says ~Tel.l Hhat k ink of salesman is he. Says, Hel J., s a,ys he travel.s from ti.tty to tit:by and Rays ",hen he gets to a big ti.tty he stays there a HhiJe." 271. (lour>'\ '~" in Georgin:tpulled a gun He t aken a shot at me 'I'he second time he shot 8f, me ~ ~ passed through Tennessee. , Oh, go along mule, "lOnt ya roD your eyes You can change a fool but 8~ doggone mule, is a mule until he dies. * " ~ ~! I'd rather drink rouddy water~.t sleep in a holler log I'd rather drInk l1lllddy "star, sleep in " holler log Than to be 1\1 Atl antH, treated like a dirty dog. Yod el lade 0 lad e 0 lade ( ...) If your house c atoh fire, ain't no water round If your house catch fire, aint no Hater round Just put J'our trunk out the ;Tinda, let your house Yodel lade 0 lade 0 lade ln1-burn dmm. {\ (\. riSe goin to the river, genna take my roc1<:i:n cSH3.1r I'se IJ.. goin to the river, gonna take n~l rdlckin ohair If the blues overt. akes me, I' ro gonne rock a~"a> from here. Yodel lade 0 lade 0 lade Yodel lade 0 l"d,o 0 lade 310.', Rock >111 6ur BaMe' iro tlleep " [~' p"- ou1kJ II Just the other night "lhile out for a ',mIl< .I h"ppened to Hull, dmm t.he stre'Jt !'.nd to my surprise, I sa'd Hit.h my eyes Ny 1.Jife ,!lth a man of s 1-x feet, ,she says its no harm, dont raise no a1"rm Dont rAise no fuss on the street :3he tickled my chin, she asked "e to go in lInd rock all the baMElS to sleep Yodel ] ade 0 ] ade a lade And rock nIl the babies to sleep." 13 327. "1' for Texas, l' for f-3t-,~ (l'ennessee 3/,8. l' for Texas, T for Tennessee c T for TeIma, thai, gaJ that made I) l're~k out of me Yodel lade 0 lade 0 lade I'm gonna bU;1 me !l shotgun l'ith a groat long shiney barr'l I'm ,t!,onn8 buy me a shotgun 1iflth 'c groat long shiney bardl I'm f?onna ]<111 that rounder that stole 1.'l\,I8.y my gal Yodel lade a lade a lade Yode] lade a lade a lade" ~~ I l'Nlked up to a farmer, asked him for a ride lIe said BUddy :if you got money you cnn ride on tl:e inside Yodel lade 0 lade a lade Yodel lade 0 lade a lade 362. !\int no need of me Harkin so hard this rnornin ~~t need of 1.Jorkin hard this evmin I no me so Says there aint no need of me workin so hard Sa''yS I got a. girl in the vlhit,e folk s "S ard rJ'his mornin, this evnjn, so soon. Scys when she kills a chicl(en she saves me the Hing, this mornin Hhen she ki1ls a chicken she saves me trle "Jing this evnin Says t.Lep> ai.nt no need of me ;larkin so bard Sa~s I got a girl in the \>Ihite folks yard 1'1- is ~rnin, this evnin, so soon. Hnt no need of me Horkin so hard this morn in Mnt no need of 1M' \>larkin so hard thIs evnin Aint no need of me workin so hard Snys I got H g (xl in the ;lhite folks yard This mornin, this evnln, so SOOD. Aint no need of me workin so hard 121 the 'Ihite f01k8 yard M' Pint no need of me work'in So hard in the white fol1m yard Hel] thinl,s she's Harkin, aint doin a thing ,Just H,,1kin do,,.m the r-:rtreet ta1Jdn to the girls This mornin, this evnin, So soon. HOH many bjscui,ts enn you eat this morn:i.n HO>I many biscuits Can you eat, forty nine IIDd e ham a meat this morn.in, this evn'n, so soon, ~ ~1,Wwl IAint no need "f me .,,orkin do herd this mornin Mnt no Deed of me Harkin so hald this evnin 14 15 Aint no need of me ;lOdin so k,rd ~) I got a girl in thc ',Ihite foThs yerd This mornin, this evnin, So soon." 399. "TaThin about this an the other and talkin about ghosts. 1 once lived in n home Hhen I \'laS s :voung bO'Yfap in North Carllna whl1ch is caned Summerfleld,North Carlin". lie lived in I'l old, big country home out 011 the farm about tH8nty five miles from anybody. And at night you'd have to drm, the gun in to let the chickens ~o to roost. But at nigl~, along "bout ten or eleven o'clocY'C ?aUld hear the front door open ilnd It Hould open and nobody Hould como In. So I had 'ill old shepherd dog there when 1 stayed there by myself at night. This old dog Hould bark and I'd kn01' somebody "as I] comin in but I never cUd see em.!! :/i32. "1 remember back when 1 H8,S a young man, that 1 "'os courtin. I lived in Grumsburough, North Cs.rHna, rrey wIfe she lived in Edgeburou/?,h, North Carlina. which is about seven, eight mHeS apart.>!ell about onest n woek I'd cross oval' an go over to see her on ,"!ensd"y nIghts and on Sl1"day nights. Of course 1010 Hould st8.rt b~ck bomo during tl at time Braund ten, elevem, or h/Ellve a 'clock "t nIght and I I d have to go through a bunch of Hoods and by a cematary at thai time, In "hieh 1, uh, could see a light "ol "hich I~ Has very fri gbtenh,c of iJnd 'Ihlch later on I found out that Has " electric light shinin on this tofmbstone in tha graveyard hut at the time 1 HaS afraid to go by there bocguse 16 I \ws ai'r3.id somebody 'lEIS .in that grsveyard th(",t wlUld gtab me durin that time that I Hou1d pass that tiIne - lot." 1,.59. '!!ell I dti>nt kn01~ too trluch about en. I ldnda afra:i d of ghost stories Cause I'm afraid they might get em." "Hell I dont l{noH 8.8 I knoH anythJng in particular I do hove one 0"], on " preacher. I \~ould te] 1 you that. It H>'S haPP"ll~ eel 'dEW out i the cOllntrJ' "lhen they used to have protracted meetIngs, they called it. And all the pre8chers and all woll.ld meet 111. the particular place at a certain time of eacl1 year and it seElms thaJ thEl hotel fl1cil~ties Here more or less :iJlllhted. 0-1""' \lel1 this ~ old preacher he H1W 8 little late fetting there to regi ster: in for the night and he almost did 'nt get a rOOHl. b\'i~v,,- The clerk debated ,lith h1m and to!l.d him he did 'nt ttr:tnl; he H could put him up for the night. So the old preacher he"di.d 'nt lmOH hardly \4hat he -HaS going to do, and he started out the . hotel, the clerl ci3Hed'h,nir:nback, sa:ys, I'll tell yA jlarson, I do have one room upstai 1'8 that hl3.8 t,lin beds 1n it. There's just one catch, there is a lady in one bed but [Jays she's a sound sleeper and if you slip in and tiptoe easily I dont lJblibve you 'Iauld disturb her. So the parson decided ~ maybe th.3t 1jH~S tie best, he could do, he hf1d better take this room because ~' it Has late an he 'W1':lS cold an he did1nt "ant to go and look i' So , any further. he goes to upstrJ irs a.nd decides to take th4>5 17 room froee the clerk. And about fiftElElD or tHent;y minjts the clerk heard a turrible noise comin dOHll the stetrs. As he C4lne dOlm the clerk says, Parson, what on earth is Hrong IJJth you, He says, yeu knoH what, that ,roman tn that other bed td dead. The clerk sa;. s, Hell Parson, I knew it a11 the time, but hOH AX on the E1srth, hO\4 on earth did .you find out?" ~ 508. "I remember one time~hat there Has Ii travelin salesTI18n stays there, but, he says, sI'lys I'll tell ya. He dont gettIn dark an he went up to h .~ Mf'Ith . e says, S1~~ m aV111 car night Hith you sIr? lIe says, ,",!'In ~ have but one bed an me an my wife:, " it!J gettin cold an it's ds.rk and he country. It Was an ~aid to him, spe"nd the gain through the this men 's house trouble an ma,y I says, we will let ;you stlay there. He'll share the bed to yn. And so hes ta,1,e1lis horse an put it up in the garage, uh, in the stable. And along about t;ro o'clock he says we dont have much to es.t but says He'll share it 'lith ya. Says He hlllve c13bbage an collard gr,ens and turnips and says He'll share tL,'lt 'lith ya. So they Ellll.t their supper an long about eivht 0 'clock they 'lent to bed. So about onG or two 0 'clock il'l the mo:rnin they hear" turrable noise up at the barn. So the old farmer he jumped up an he Hent runnin out the door an up to the blllrn. So while he \-IIllS gone this old woman said to thl6~ traveling salesman, says, no\, is the time, noH is the time, now is the time! So you know Hhat, SIll;,S, this old traveUng salesman jumped up, Vlent into the ldtchen, opened up the refrIgerator, eat np all the damn turnip greens." 18 of that Vias travelI ng tL,"l'" a hHl, he saVi ,'1 " 646. "There was another salesman that I kneVi through the country. So he run over a top of {j,l1.r<!- man settin down on the mIddle of the concrete, " he was dIcgln ur concrete with a spoon. So he stopped an he says, Lord, he says, What's the matter Hith that man. So he looked up on the hills ide there in " plowed fiold all he saH ,mother man up there on a stump like he Has fishin. An, uh, he said to this other bOj' do\,m on tho road, ho says,,' well what is that boy doin up there. He says, he's fish:lng. He seys, "1011, says, uh, does he catch any fish. He says, yeab, says he catches a few. Says, "lel.1 hOH does he get. alvay from tl,ere. Says \ken :It get.s dark, says I get in a boat and row up there and get him." 566. There '''''S another s",leswm tkt I kno'" Was traveHn through (JW<I the country. one time, r-he StW a m,~n up thore, he was rubbin Lis ca'", whIch ",as a beautIful COW. He rubbed her:$' an he rubbed her, an he; ma'1 tbought the cow lva3 sIck or somethin. He sai! to the man, he said, stopped, an he said to the man, he says, may I help you sIr, he seys. No, he says, the cows not sick he says. Hell I thought she "'as sick. lIe says, O1ell, says, what's the matter vith the CoH. Says, well, this cow here Is .just lik" It a woman. Says, Hat'dya mean .just lIke a woman. Says this CO,1 has got. a coel( on her like a woman an seys l1W Hife has got. a cock on her lIke 2, cow. [3ays hOH much differance wou1ld you Hllnt betCleen this C014 and my wife." 19 590. "Talkin about stories, thet reminds me of one time I "3S in New York. An I'm w811dn dOl'll1 through the park in New York 3nd strys I S[3,VT a policeman standin dOT/m there on a little bridge look in dO'1l1 on the valle)1 belm,. 'hero '"ms a beeutifu1 girl and 'j man Ut \}ft- Ba.ld, he BEtyS, 1l1yin do"" tbere on the ground lIT. the po] icem<}n 2 JD"W" ~. hey Buddy, sa.ys, ,lhl1t in the world are you doin He says, nothin. He said, 'Iell come up hElre and stand guard I1nd let me do"n th"re for 11 \.lhi1e." 611. Bab)1 in the Stable Loft. "Baby in the steble loft, talkin to them stable 10ft \'!hat'd ya /Sonna do \,ith the baby 'Ihat'd ya gonna do "ith the baby ~ !,olrap him 1n a candy coat, take hin to his mammy a ':Ihat'd ya gonna do "i th the baby Baby hollers. baby cries, stUCN '!!hat'd ya /Sonna do ,!.it!: the 1tJhat'd ya gonna do vT:i.th the baby 650. Old Dan Tucver Old Dan Tucker "as e fine old \'IMhed his face in a fry in pan Combed his head "ith B "agon ~ Died of a toothech in h18 heel finger in tho baby's eye Said get. on a"18y, Old Dan Tucker Y"r too I ate for ta get IIny supper." 660. Turkey in the Stra"f (Little Bro'dn Jug) .... " .'t'/>. Ha,.ha, h",~You'mnd me LHtl" bro;m .jug, how I love thee HA, ha, h,c., yon and me Little brown .jug, ho'" I love thee (78. 'iJho Broke the Lock on the Hen House Door Hho broke the lock on the hen house door ~Jell, 1'11 find O'"t before I go ';lho broke the lock on the hen house doo Sa;ys the rooster an th" pul: et Hent out Hest Says the rooster to the pullet, I love you best The pl11let says the rooster, says I know you a lie Says I eought 110U .in the back alley bIg ShanghaI NOH Hho broke the 10ck I dont know Hho broke the lock on the hen house doo Hell, I'll find out before I go I'Jho broke the lock on the hen honse doo ~, DOHn in the '.d.ld;rood , settin on 2 log Say the eye on the trigger an the hIgh on the hog PuJled the gun with aD my j'] ip ,Jumped on thot hot:': HHh "II my grip F;atin pig eyes, chHtalins, cold biscuits, 20 Says aint no need of me Horkin so hard S"ys I got " gal j n the Hhite folks yard clays Hhen she ]<1118 " chjcken sho saves me the \.lings Says thinks I'm Horkln, not dojn 11 thing TalkIn about it to other \oIomen Says stFndin on the corner ~rl St and in like " man Says standIn on the corner Hith a bucket in her hnnd St,'Indln on tho corner ,,:LU, a bucl<ct in my hand Gonna sO)op my way to the promIsed land. 21 A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us in a position to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials accurately. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created. Additionally, our work to use reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete is ongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.