Rick Smith and Ann Adams interview with P.H. Gibson, Comer Vandiver, Sue Vandier, Jim Trammell, William Gibson, and Rob Miles (part one)

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. Note: At 23:40 there is a discussion and song that include discriminatory language against African Americans. This is the first of a three part recording; in this part William Gibson and Ron Miles sing and play songs on the guitar. Songs are as follows: 00:06 If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again 03:44 Darling' Nellie Gray 08:17 Lonesome Road Blues 11:30 Bearcat Papa 13:56 Three Night Experience 17:39 I Saw the Night 19:34 Some Glad Morning 20:43 When the Roll is Called Up Yonder At 23:40, Gibson express concern about the discriminatory language and meaning behind the lyrics of the next song, Coon! Coon! Coon! The Lamenations of a Nigger, which is about an African American man fantasizing about being White. He recalls learning this song from his father who wore black-face in school performances when he was six, after which he condemns discrimination against African Americans. Gibson returns to to sing and play: 31:10 The Old Cane Press 33:38 Seven Years With the Wrong Woman 36:52 Thats All 43:01 Shake Hands With Mother Again 45:59 Wilson tunes his fiddle then continues 47:35 Lay There by the Junipers (sung by Ron Miles) 53:15 Railroad Bill 56:09 He Touched Me (sung by Gibsons daughter) 58:32 Lunatics Lullaby 1:00:04 A Long Steel Rail and a Short Cross Tie is the last song. P.H. Gibson was born in Monroe, Georgia. Comer Vandiver (1904-2004) was born in Helen, Georgia, to George Ancel (1872-1947) and Lula Tennessee (1874-1979). He married Sue Johnson (1905-1977) in 1904 and served as a Colonel in the United States Airforce during World War II. He later married Byrda Nell Southards Perry (1924-2015). Rev. James Jim Trammell (1896-1973) was born to Nicholas LaFayette (1870-1955) and Maggie Jarrett (1873-1938)in Helen, Georgia. He served in the armed forces during World War I. Afterward in 1922 he married Maud (1906-1987), worked as a farmer and preacher, and they had three children, Tommy Ray (1932-2011), Jessie Ruth (1939-1940), and Paul James (1923-1997). William Gibson and Ron Miles were born in Thomson, Georgia. Additional biographical information has not been determined. AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue number Hs":> Ino:::) ,1\ . t?t , Source Field' (ContentDMl ~ Release form Yeso~ Transcript Yes or No scanned: .. From Yes or No Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individuai: individuai through <your org. name> Georgia Folklore Collection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter information about the phvsical obiect here: ~ ~l'\,-t. '\'\1\.1,\( (~l' Mr-, \A/\' \ \ \ g, " C:, ~ \:.)~:::'I,V{'\ \J-( 1l." Hi\c:') ~"'f '~? %. ,,\\' ~;~\,'V/\ Description (bio on interviewee) .' ... H" 'Il"" 1\'\''',,', .\' "/" '\ ,n ( . \f\ ~.".,> /.", .,.,J<\ ;"",: ' ','." ., . ':: .J'. k' Creator '(Enter either an Individual's name or an organization) Collection Name (Within the organization) BurrisonFolklore Class Georgia Folklore Archives Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) f-:-:-----------t----------------I Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Object Type Media Format (VHS, reel to reel, etc Recording extent Derivatives Recording clip Time code for clip (h:m:s) Year Span Image_ Text Text and image _ Video and sound Sound only_ Reel-reel Hours: Minutes: Itj', I:' Access copy: Yes or No Yes or No Beginning: 1'0/' y, ~:".2Y!_ From To Access copy format: Clip extent: End: 1:06 :l Notes (interview summary) S:""($' SO-l'($'\i~J.r ,) "V\ b"c.k 0\\" .\"\\") '\:'\"" ::~",\('S ~ J\\cc'" ' . : ' . . ,. 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'(I r.<,\ t, 1t.' ; ~, \. , kll (1\(IV"g, \y..~"'l ",( ,,/'I (. ,l~ t}(),( Subject Information Enrer .InformafIo'n a'bout the content of theob)'Iect here: Subject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year Is known) Circa (4 digit year) rUo ''( Year Span From To SUbject Who Last Name First Name MI \ 1\'\,to">_ ) (I~',,"'{', G, :v/;;>"""(' ("~\ r\ , ~){\ \'\\' V , (.~\:. t'tJ\~,,~\,r'. , I V\';\.V\\[',t C-l\!d.l I', 1\ t-' I'> . ,-~"t',,-t\ j,,~ {' f;:k<:..,\........... ~il\'H ... Subject Country State County Town Local Name I-tot" ,rC. Location' V,S. C,A I?,r,\ ,.I, f I. {\ lId, ,', Subject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you: "\,'10'(1 ''.''il (LOC subject j\,\ k",\(~ <. headinos onlv) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See SUbject who for additional names . . 3 Corporate names Geographic ..locations Topics I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I A COLLECTION OF GEORGIA FOLK TALES & SONGS by Rick Smith and Ann Adams 1"011110re 301 Ga. state College June, 1969 Our Folktales and Songs were Collected from the Following Sources Mr. P.H. Gibson Monroe, Georgia Mr. Holson Between, Georgia Mr. & Mrs. Comer Vandiver Helen, Georgia Mr. Jim Trammell Helen, Georgia Mr. William Gibson Thomaston, Georgia Mr. Ron MilAS Thomaston, Georgia Mr. Rick SmHh Atlanta, Ceorgia Mr~,!p,H,.Gibson, Monroe, Georgia 1. I was riding on a long stretch of road between AI~hny and Americus. I saw a nigger woman with a one horse wagon. Her tail gate bounced out. I picked it up and drove down the road beside of her snd stopped and a~ked her did she want her tail boa~d. She said, "YoU mind-readlnr: fool. get in this wapon." ],2. I was a little boy. We wore dresses, uh, aprons till we was a good size and, uh, go to school we'd wear pants. Well, my pants hadn't come in. So welas gonna have a PSl'ty over the country house snd knew there wn"! cracks in the house. And I could go over there Gnd look in through the cracks nnd I wan standing there looking in through the crscks arid I begin to choke, and I thought it was my heart up in my mouth and I was in luv with the little I"ull in there. And I \.urn6d around to ~o home and I hit Aomething and I looked and a billy goat had chewed rna shirt off up to my shou],ders and he was choking me. 21. A shIp caught afire near Savannah and the,'T got everybody off of it but one little gull and her name was Anna. And her mother was hollerIng Save Annat" "Save Annat" And they put the two words together and made the word SBvam",h. 24. ~'he WOr'cl Ghattnoogie wen an Tndian name meaning a bird'a nest down In a hole. 38. 44. 57. 2. I was travelling in South Carallna and, uh, the car broke down. It was raining bad cold, free7.ing weather. Saw n light on the hill and, uh, went up there and ther'e and asked the lady hmmmm a phone, Said, "No, and nobody can't get out here no how. The I'oad's too bml," Says, "Como on in and spond the night." So she put me upstair~ in a room and I was lying there and ::he sa id she was by herself. Umh, I heard her tiptoeing up the hall In a little b1';, umh, I didn't !know what to think but T heard her tiptoeing to my room and knocked on the d,)()!' an she said, "Open llJl the door Mr. Gibson. Here's another travelling man broke down. I had a brother-in-law in Alabama. He was a jedge and he had a farm and one Sunday enenin', preacher too, he was a preacher and had his hat off and it oome a little cloud over the sun and hornet lit right in the forehead and he thought lightnlrl[' hit em, a clap of thunder come at the name time, find he says, "Now I'm dead. Why don't I fall'!" And ho thought he was hit by Jightnin' but it wa" the hornet that hlt em. And he, this Judge was a good shot and he never missod with the .rJ fIe blAt he went out to shoot squil'rels one day and he shot at ono seventeen times and he still hopped around in the tree. He couldn't figure out what WI:\S the matter and so finally he reached up on his eye lash and he pulled a louse off and uh that's what it was. He thought when he closed one 'lye and looked through his eyebrow he saw a squirrel and it W8S a louse on his eyebrow. A young couple was married and hadn't been ma~ried long and one day her husband called his young wife from the office and said, "'Gonna have a cnnple to eat supper wU,h 1)S tonight,," And she got word didn't hove nothing much to eat in the hous e. And they had one big yanni" "('DOS tel' in the ya rd, so she decided she'd kill that rooster and cook him for supper. But she'd never killed one, nor dressed it so she went out 119. ?75. Sndcaught him and picked him before she killed him. And then the phone rang again and it was her husband and he sold, "Don't fix supper for um, they decided not to come." So then she wa s worri ed about tha I. roos ter and over hi s feathers and he'd freeze to death. She went and made him >fa little suit of clothes and put on him and turn him loose. And her husband comes in later and he laugh. And said, "'What ya laughing at?" Said, "That rooster out there in the yard. He look so fllrny." She says, "Well, T know his clothes don't fit good, but was the best I could do." He says, "Clothes was alrig'ht, but when I saw him he's chasing the hen around the house on one foot, trying to unbutton his britches with the other." In Atlanta there, nigger went over to see his girl. Went ~o bed and cO\11dn't do much. She says, "Raf~us, get up and get that Vasaline up there on the mantle," And he got up and got the Vasaline, thought it was the Vasaline and rubbed on hlm. Went back and they was all right. Next ~orning he got up and took s leak and shook it and the head fell off. Says, "Ida, wha'shs done to me?'1 Said, "I ain't done notbinp:. Why'I" Clald, "T shako I t and the head falls off." She said, "Wait a minute." She look at the mantle there. "You didn't do what I tole ya. I tole ya to get that Vasaline. You got that one nlpht corn remover." ',..., .,y .~, In Oakland cemetery in Atlan t.a they kep a night po U ce' man on duty all the time. There's a rOCk, brick wall around the cemetery and one night this policeman heard somethin' rattlin' a chain and saw somethin' white Hnd so he shot the thang. It was a littJe white poodle-dog. And picked it up by the chain and threw it over the wall and uh, the sidewalk so the trashman col11d get it and they bappened to be a nigger man passin'. He hit him on the shoulder with it. He heard the nifger say, "Good God~" And be took to the road. Mr. Va~ldiver, Helen, Georgia (NOTE: The first part of this or accidently erased. preface to the story of which was Whistling and left them a farm.) story was either not recorded, As we remember, it was only a there were three brothers, one Jimmy, whose father had died 300. . Of course they didn't, uh, didn't, uh, divide the farm up, but they decided they'd go 5n the cattle business. So they had uh, oh, uh, a biS batch,uh, big herd of cattl.0 and 000 old poor now in this herd. And that's all they, Ole Whistling Jimmy, why, thoy decided that they'd give him that poor cow and then they'd make him go down and herd the cattle. (See) And he'd herd the cattle -right down in close to the load and everybody'd came along he'd say, "'All these cows are mine but old poor cow, an I wouldn't have her." And everybody that came along he'd just te11 that story. S'o ~hese two brothers decided, "Well now they's tired of that, going and him telling people that all those cattle was his but that poor old cow and wouldn't have her." So they, uh, they decided then tbat they's gonna kill that cow, so they went down and killed the cow. And uh, so he, uh, he ((Whistling Jimmy)) went and skinned her and put the hide in the sack and run off to sell it's hide. So he went to a, came to a, travelled all day long and that night he cme to a farm house out in the country, a long way from anywhere and it was dark and he was a stranger too. So he knew there was sometU.ng going on there in the house and they was preparing for a wedding, they gonna have a wedding there in the house SO he decided he'd uh, see if he COUldn't get a room to stay. So he went and took his old cowhide and stretched it over, stretched it up some way, and barrel it up some way to where he could make it walk and he let this cow into, onto the up front of the house and knocked on the door and ub asked um if he could spend the night. Said he was a stranger in that part of the county-y and he was a long ways to where anybody else lived and he'd like to spend the nip:ht. And they said, "Well yes" said, "Be glad to give him a bed." And said, "What is this you go there?" Says, "This is my animal." Said, "Always keep my animal in the same room I stay in." So they said bring it on in. So they brought the animal in and put him in the room where he was and then he took and tied a 8 tr'i ng to it (ya know) where he could pUll it (ya know) an it'd make a funny noise and layed the string along the thr01JI,'h hhe door and out in to the 11 ving room where everybody was talking and everything and uh, (sorta gettin' ahead of my story. I first he heard them preparing for this wedding ya see and they's have the ham they's puting in the first shelf of the cupboard and the pie in the second shelf, and the cake in the third shelf of the cupboard.) So he got all that information and of course he stretched his string off in where he was gonna put it down by the side of his chair, where he wss setting snd got to talking and hp'd resch down and a pull it and it'd make a funny noise. And one of 'um said, "Wha twas tha ty" "That was my animal." He says, "What kinda animal is thatY" "Oh he's an animal that knows everything. There's nothing he doesn't know." And he reached and give him another pull. He says, "What's he making that noise forY" He says, "Well," says he, "He wanted some of that there ham on the first shelf of the cupboard." So they went and got him the ham and brought it back and he went in there, slipped off the pillow case and put it in th~ pillowcase. Went back and sat down. Reached down and give it another pull. Says, "Now wha'd he sayY" Said, "He wanted some of that pie in the second shelf of the cupboa rd." So they went and got the pie for him. And he put that in the pillowcase. And he went back and sat down, In a little bit he pulled the string and it made another noise. Said, "Wha'd he say nowY" "Said he wanted some of that cske on the third shelf of the cupboard ." Said, "Well how in the world does he know thatym Said, "Well this animsl knows everything. There's nothing he doesn't know. Sa ys he jus t knows everything." He says, "Well, now I believe I'll just go in " And first the old msn says "Wha'll you take for himY" Says, "1']1 tske $500. He's an animal well-worth the manny. He's an snlmal that knows overJthlng. Anythinl\ ya warma know, .lust Bsk him vnd he'll tell ya." He says well he l'elleve he .lust buy him. So ho got him up tbe money and he glve it to him. And he says, t'Well, I believe I'm gonna go to bed now. And in the morning I'll get up and show ya'll the rudiments of how .this animal functions and how to make him talk fer ya.l! So they all retired, Bnd he went in the room to retire and got his pillowcsse, his ham and his pie snd his cske and his $500. and made 1. tout. !\nd he wen't back home, and he was settinp: in the room counting III this money and these two brothers passed by the window tind saw him in there with all that money and him countinp: his money. Says, "Where in the world did ya ge t tha t maneyI'" He says, "I sold my cowhide." Says, "Wha' d ya getI'"' Says, "I got $500." He says, "My." He says uh, "Why," he says, "It'd pay you fellows to kill all your cattle and just skin um and go off and sell their hides ." So they went to killing cattle and they killed all day long and skinned and they got uh a wagon load, all they could haul. Sb they went on the road to sell the hides. They travelled and they travelled and the hides begin to spoil and um, and never' could find anybody to buy um, so they iust lost all the hides. Killed all the cattle and lost all the hides. So they went back home and told Whistlin' Jimmy they's gonna kill him; that he'd caused them to kill all their cattle and they lost the hides and couldn't get nothing for um. So he (Whistlin' Jimmy) says, "Alright." So they jus' gonna drown him. They'd put him in a sack and took down to the oreek to a big deep hole and they set him down there and while they's settin' there in the sack that's tied, they went off to hunt rocks to tie to it (ya know). So when they throwed him in, why he'd sink. So while he Was 1n there whistling, he was whistling up a big tune and here come this guy along the road with a flock of sheep. And the fellow says, "Hey, wha'd ya doing there?lI says, "I'm alearning how to whistle." Said, !Wouldn't you like to know how to whistle well?" He says, "Yes, I would." He says, "Well, gnt down and l~ntie this sack" says, "I can fix ya !'1 rht Up." So he untied the sack and he got out and this fellow got in. Ane he tied him up. So he crawled on the horse and drove the sheep away. Drove off with the sheep. So the boys came back with the rock and tied the sack and throwed the old man in. And that wes the last of him. So in the next day or t(~w.l, here he come along back, along with this big flock of sheep. And the boys said, II Jimmy, where in the world you get all those sheep?" Said, "Well you know where you sent me." He says, "All they deal in down there is sheep And hogs." Says, "I thoup:ht I'd bring back a flock of sheep. See how we'd come out on that," 733. I '7 p NOTE: MI'. Vandiver can not remember exactly how the story ends until later in the session. For the sake of consistency, we will insert it in the transcript. Part I ends with the footage 425, Part 2 begins at 733.) Hey, I know what happened to this here other, these two brothers that, uh, Whistlin' Jimmy, brothers. They decided that they would, uh, like to uh, tryout, try some hogs. He (Whis tUn' Jimmy) says, "Well, I can see if I can fine you up. Send you down there? Says, "All there is is sheep and ~ogs" and says "they's plenty of hogs and you can get' em." So they decided. Then he says, "Your jes' get in these sacks and I'll send you down there." So he got 'em in the sacks and he tied, tied up the sacks and throwed the men_and, uh sunk 'em and that was the last of the other two fellows. So WhistUn' Jimmy ended up with the farm and everythang that was left. Mrs. Vand!l.ver 431. Two little boys bought a cow together. One of 'em said, "Me and my bro1,ber Bill bour:ht a COVI t' athol' day and he paid for half the cow and I paid for half the cow and I went and milked the cow and he said "Give me half the milk." And I s,dd "YOI! don't own that end." And I shot my end and his end died. Mr. Vandiver 437. Well, this other story is know to be the stingiest people in the country. So this fellow there, he decided he'd go over:.1,here and he'd fix 'em up. So he went and tole 'em he'd like to spaend the night wi th 'em. 'l'hey sald, "AlrIgbt, be glad to have ya." So they all got ready for supper. Put all the vittles on the table. This fellow, he Jus' took out. Filled his plate up good. Of course the old man, the old stingy man, he's the idea he'd jus' take out a llttle bit of sturf (ya know) and he eat a few bltes and he'd excuse hisself, and ofcourse .his company do likewise. (See) But this fellow jus' kept eating and_old man said, "Excuse me, I believe I'll go in to the fire." So, fellow jus' kept on eating. Jus' put it away. After he got through, he says to the old lady, he says, "Well," says "I'll help ya clean up the di shes now." She says, "No, you just get up Bnd go right on in and join the old man in there at the fare." Says, "Well won't take me long to clean up the dishes." Says, "No, well I'm jus' in the habit of doing it at home. Jus wouldn't feel right if I didn't help clean up the dishes." She says, "Well alrlght. If ya jus' determined to do it." So everything else was left, he jus' raked off onto one plate. Didn't leave a thing, jus' cleaned the dishes out and raked it allan one dish. And then throwed it all to the dogs and ca ts. So after while they went on in to the livlng room, or parlor, or bedroom, or whichever it was is by the fire. And uh, old man says after while, "Well" says "believe I'll go to bed. Fellow says, "Well" says "believe I'll go to bed too." (ya know) Of course, well he's off in a little side room, right next that one w1th the door open. So they went to bed and after a little while the old man says, "Old lady, I~m jus' so hungry. I got to have something to eat." Says, "Well, there's not a th1ng left" says "Ya know that fellow whenever he got through eating, he helped me clean up the d1shes and he throwed everyth1ng that was left out to the dogs and cats." SayR, "Well I jus' got to have something," says "couldn't ya make me a little hoe cake? Couldn't ya do that?" And she says, "Well I could do that." So she went and made up a little dO\'.1I\(, ya know,that's meal and water). And put it down, spreat 1t down on the hot hearth, right on the edge of the fire and then covered it over w1th hot ashes (see). And, uh, so they's sitting by the fire. And the old man, the v1s1tor, and says "Old man, you up?'" Says "Yea" says II< just couldn't sleep,'" and says, "thought I'd get up and set by the fire.'" Says, "Well ya know I can't sleep either, so I bel1eve I just get up and tall{ with ya." So he got up and they's setting by the fire. He says, "Ya know, my father died and he left a b1g farm. And there's three of us, uh, three boys ." And while he's doing that he reached over and got the fire poker (ya know). And he says "'Ya know, we decided we'd divide that farm up." So he took his poker and he got over at the edge of these ashes (see) and he says "We d1vided 508. 64,9, 733. it this way. We oome right down (through the fire aoross the hoe oake) and we divided it in three parts. And so it went on tha t way for some 11 ttle time and ya know we wasn't s~tisfied with that deal, so we just stirred it all up tbgether and sold it Bnd divided the money." lUck Smi th YB know, some people jes' tell flat out lies about fishin', big fish they catch Bnd everything and uh, but ya know s,ome of it's really true. Ann and I were down on the Flint River down in llpson County where I live and we were out in the middle of the river and I hooked this fish and it was jes' pullin' with all its might ya know and I nouldn't do B thing with it. All of B sudden he jes' let go and jest jumped way outa the water and jes' dived baok down and broke the line, jes' got away ya know Bnd never SBW him again. But while he was 0\1 ta tbe wa ter uh, Ann took a p1. c ture of 1. t, she had a camera in the boat and we I':ot back to town we had it developed and 1.t must, it Was go'ma be the biggest fish, uh, that I'd eve~ seen 'cause the pioture weighed 251bs. Mr. Vandiver I seem to remember one somethin' 'bout nh, uh, they was hun tin' once, had a double- bBrrel f"un, am'!. uh, this fellow was, Bnd he's standin' c10wn by the creek and he looked down in front of him Bnd saw a big rBttlesnake jest ~eady to charge 'em and Ilh, let's see, I don't know. Well, anyway, he let both barrels off ','78. know and, ,and uh, the ram-~od went down the rattleanake's throat and killed it and one barrel went up the creek and killed a thousand ducks and the other barrel wen t down the nreek and ld.lled a thousand geese Bnd ho got, he nh, the gun ki nl< fld him 0 f fin to the crfJek and he come out with a boot fulla fish. Mrs, Vand i ver 'Palkin t bout hOftl makes me think of my daddy used to teLl! the story of when he was sixteen years old. Lived in the country and somebody died and gra~dmother sent hinl .. for ',ollie resson, maybe to take food over to this hOuse and on the way, 798. ~lO back' he htid to pass the church wi th uh, the graveyard and the churchyard and he had'always been uh, of the opinion that uh" spirits would come back to earth and if so, he was not afraid of anything but uh, if they come back they had a message they wanted conveyed to someone. So he was passin' the church and the wind was blowin l it was in the fall and the church door was swingin' back and forth, made a noise and tbe moon was shinin' and it was ghosty out there. But he heard this noise and be went up to the door end thought it was up 'bout the pulpit somewhere and stuck his head in and told 'em he wes reliable young man and if uh, if some departed spirit hed come back to bring a message that he could be trusted to give that message to whomever they wanted it delivered to and he thought he told them a convinelng story end everything was very, very quiet. And he repeated it and nothin' happonen and ho went back ovt in ,the nhur'chyard and :1 t started allover agBJn. And he thovght it was under the church floor up about the pulpit, in that area and the church was underpinned and there was a hole there 'bout ~o big where they put wood, under ther'e to build a flre in the wood-stove in the church. So he crawled vp under there and started talkin' again and told them thatsame story that he was there to deliver any measave they might have to give I em and uh, nothinp; happened, they were very quiet again, the Il,host was, and he said, "'All rIght, I'm party g'ood with a rock and if you don't answer me 1 1m gonna l('lt you have It.'' They didn l t answer and he let I em have the rock and 'bout tha t time everything went BOOD~ and it was a bunch of wild hawgs and he said they jest ran allover him. Oh, yes I do know one too~ Daddy used to tell ghest stories and he said that uh, in the community there, was uh, story goin' round that uh, this wman was comin l back to deliver some message and she was always draped in a whlte sheet and it had been told and told and told unti] some people in the community was havln l marital troubles and uh, one nIght, he heard a nolse and thought he saw thIs uh, whl te sheet out by the side of the road and he said nh, ub, l1IIf you Ire vh, yon're a rhost, come out and make yourself known, ann uh, if you're the devil whlch I think you are come go home with me 'cause I married your sister NOTEr BeoaUAe of no elActricity, we were not able to record Mr. Holson from Between, Georgia, but on the tape Rick Smith repeats one of his fishing tales. 640. He said he was up on a pond somewhere around Between and eat there and he caught so many fish that where he was pUllin' 'em out after a while he jest wore a slick hole in the water. 819. :5:6. 40. n. Mr. Vandiver Talkin' 'bout this graveyard, some story I always thought as a place where there were ghosts, They's a fella (Here in Helen?). Naw, it always ulo, always a old sayl ng is tha t a cemetery is a , is a place where they nnd ghosts. And this fella was comin' uh, he had to go, he was comin' home one night and, and he came up close to this, by this cemetery And he looked out there and he could see, see tharlf"s in motion, somethin' white just in motion out there. He got excited and he didn't live but a short ways beyond the cemetery but he got excited and ran all the way back a mile or two back behind the first house behind, told 'em 'bout seein' this th~ng in the cemetery and it was jes' in motion, somethin' white. So they came back with him ad uh, when they got up 'er they discovered that this big 01' cow uh, cow had been grazlrl' ripht close to the cemetery ad steppod "ver into It and It caved in and it, she run off 1n 'er, hack In 'or and was junt alaylng thar' and l:wd her legs wigglJn' back and forth ,. snm 'TWO - TAPE ONE MrS! Vandlvor Little boy was saying his prayers and his sister kept ticklin' his feet and after a while he became annoyed and said, "Excuse me a minute Jesus while I knock hell out of sister Kate." Uh, on one of the southern plantations the uh, owner had two sons and uh, they wer'e inebria ted one night and dec ided to go to the colored church and about tbe time they were there they gave the invitation for people to come up and join the church and these white boys nudged each other and said r'Let's go" and they dtd and the colored pastor saId, '~Thls Is, brethern and sisteren, this Is most unusual clrcumstances. We've known these boys all their lives af,id they got good parents and we know the boys and its most unusual circumstance - we'll have to consIder it and I makes the motIon that we take' em In to the church cause we know, because we're black and they's white. But we know that inside they're as blace as we is." 68. II 'member another one 'bout the little Catholic boy went to spend the night wi th a 11 ttle Jewish boy and uh, his 'llother told him to do uh" what the little Jewish boy did and he was a little bit nervous 'bout going because he didn't know wha t the habi ts were and the CllS toms and ahe sa id, "You jes' watch him Bnd do what he does,and it was way back in the early days before they had bathrooms and so uh, the little Catholic boy got down on his knees on the other side of the bed and Bnd uh, stayed a minute or two and got up and hopped in bed and little Jewish boy watched him nd he got down on his knees and the, side of the bed and the little Catholic boy said, "What in the hell IH'e ya doing?" And he said, "Same thing you are." And he said "Well, ma's not gonna like it 'cause the pot's on this side.'" Mr. Vandiver 120. There was uh, couple of Irishmens out knockin' around in the woods and and uh, they saw a squirrel up in the tree and one says, nFeather-me-Jesus-Chrishl I'll just, I'll just cUmb up there and catch him." So he climbed up and the squirrel jumped out. And he says, "Feather-me-Jesus-Christl If you can do that I can. And so he jumped out and just about busted 'em open but anyway they saw a, a den, a bear's den. And one, went up and says, uh, "1'11 go in there and see if the ole bear is out and I'll go in and see about the 11 ttle ones." So he climbed in t he hole, (ya know) and began to get hold of the little ones and they began to squ~al and here came the old bear and started into the hole. And then other one grabbed it by the tail (ya know), and just propped hisself up there and held him by the tail and the one on the inside says "Feather-me-Jesus-Christl What has darkened the hole?" He says, "Feather-me-Jesus~ Christl My tail hold slipped through, what darkened the hole." Mr. Jim 1'ramme11 Helen, Georgia 240. Said once there was a hunter he got, he went out to huntin'. He, he hunted all day. He didn't find anythang to shoot at so he had a lantern and he took his lantern and the lantern had a bull-eye ( magnifying glass) in it, roun little ole thang in the glass. And so he got off at a 265. distance and took arack at the bull~eye. Jes' as he went to pull the trigger he heared R noise up the ri.er. He looked up the rl"er, he saw 500 ducks. So he tuck aim at the dl1Cks jes' as he went to pull the trigger he heared a noise down the river and there was 5,000 geese. So said he rather have the geese than the ducks so he tuck aim at the geese and jest as he went to pull the tripger he looked in front of 'em and there layed a rattlesnake, five foot long. And so, he tuck aim at the geese and uh, (And I said while ago, one these old muzzle loadin' guns which ya had to put powder in then shot then take your ram~rod and then pack it down in there and there's a tube went on this uh, uh barrel the pouch ya put your powder In and it hao a cap went on the, over that tube and ya putted the hammer t1l1ck. When ya pulled your trigper that cap went over, hammer went over there and hit that cap 8.nd the far went down into the barrel and set the powder off and then ya shot went off jes' like a IYun) So jos' as he pUlled tho trigger the left-hand barrel flew up the river, kill the 500 duck, rlpht hand harrel flew down the river and killed ttlO 5,000 geese. Ro the ramrod went down the snake's throat, the old gun stock flew back and kn0cked him over in the river and he come out with his boots full of fish. Then, then uh, was a haunted house they said one time and nobody couldn't stay in the haunted house. They claimed it was haunted, said ~as always somein make some kinda noise. And there was a ole man name Uncle Moses. And Uncle Moses said that he could stay there. And then the man that owned the farm said he give ins a load of watermelons 1 f he stayed there all night. So, Uncle Moses' cided he take the job. S'0 Uncle Moses went out and got him some pine-knots, and uh, then he, then he got him a extry plug of tobacco and uh, he went there that night jes' ahout dark and made him a good fair and he was settin' up and that haunt hadn't come in. And so, Uncle Mose said to hisself, while he was havin' S11Ch a pood time said Uncle Mose said, "Ain't I a-makin' thl:l load of w&termelon easy tonlr:ht." And said said therell about five mlnutes after that the )launt come In and the thang looked ~ike a cat, look jest like a cat. And Uncle Mose sat down dd looked at it, settin' down by the fair and the haunt s/{,'ys to hlm "Don't seem to be nobody here bllt me and you tonlght." And uh, Uncle Moso turn around and looked at the haunt uaid "At the end there won't be but one." Said Uncle Moue didn't tale time to go to the door, he tuck the wlndow all aula hls way. And thero, there was B crowd of folks down on the way on the road that Imowed Uncle Mose'd come onta 311. 322. 336 .. \ll4 that houne after while. Sai,l dir0ct1.y after wh' le, they hear(J(l IJncle Mose (';())JJ1n'. And theY"l ('~tnna protect Uncle Mose and Uncle and they holle[,o<l "Uncle MOflot Uncle Moset" Uncle Mose hollered back and said, "I'll see ya'11 later." Said he went on down the road little piece and saw a rabbit' d jumped out in front of Uncle Mose gain' the flamo way. Uncle Mose said to tb8 )'abbit, "Oet outa the way. Let somebody rlm can run til And so Uncle Mose, said he run, Uncle Mose run to the hell. When he got ther'(' he jes' run hisself to death be jes' stiff. They had to pick him up and rub him to irit him exercised yo know. And said Uncle Mose setd Uncle ~lose said, "A] 1 the watermelons didn't do me a bit of good, I had to go leave I ,JI,! ," Then, then, they had "nother bout, ub, it was In there, a man through Missoul'l on a mule. And uh, ichey's a ,q;reat big 01' man loohed lik,~ he weip'hed 'bout uh, four uh, thre8 a hundred pound. And the 11 ttln 01' man, him and him got in uh, kind of a squabble. And uh, th,) little man says ub, to the big man, said "If I draw back and if I hit you, and you don't fall, I'm goin' 'round there and see what YOI\ propped agains t." Yea, and I'll tell you 'bout that slacker they called him. ,The man wouldn't work and, and so they got him up 'bOtlt 'cause ho wouldn't Vlork, he .les' layed a round town all the time and wouldn't work anrl so, so they tuck a pntition and all them that do, wouldn't N()lk they'd give 'em 1\ ,job or put 'em on the uh, city .lob and I"it 'ern to go to work. And so tbey got this fella up for not ooin' workin'. Said got him up on the ,judge and they told 'bout he hadn't never been workin' And the jUdge said 1'1 jes' gone.'h (He meant for b~n to leave the city and never see him no more come back there.) JUdge turned around when they brOlwht up there, asked him was he guilty. Says, I'Yea. 11 And judge said "I'm jes' gonna give you five hOllrs to git outa town." He turned around said, "MI' .Tudge, I .Jes' want fIve mlnuttls ." There was anothern in therel Uncle MosB uh, kl11ed a \ ] 5. possum. And vh, and so Uncle Mose put vn tho pos'J1lm and cooked the possum, then baked it. Then whl.lfl Uncle Mose was a bakin' it the possum bakin~, he went to sleep. Then the possum ~ot done when it baked, ya know, then they ready. So I don't know how l.ng Uncle ~ose slept but when he, when he tuck and uh, woke up somB boys dOBe come in there and uh, got, got uh, and eat Uncle Mose possum all up. Uncle Mose didn't know anythang 'bout it, they eaten it. And when they got through eatin' it, tuck the bones and greased hI s mouth and Uncle Mose, Uncle Mose rose, woke up and he saw grease all 'round his mouth and he says "Hahl If I eat that possum I sho' don't 'member eatin him In my sleep." 698. I heard a fella tell one time that uh, one time there's uh, way back in aI' times when a fell.9 used to preach to people. Didn't have these shelters on the, had a ~lass window In the churches now, back then, like they do now, like they do now, wasn't makIn' 'em. And so they had these wooden shelters In the churches. And one time they's havin' a preachin' and then in August and said that they was hRvln' R real meettn' bock YO'I~er, way back yonder 50 & 60 years al'0; whore the poople wen t to chureh sho' nuff they didn't go jes' to be agoln. There was a man that wos always in some kInd of mystery. Set up mystery. Said one time they was havinv a revival Rnd uh, a folIa was always 'round some devilment, some mystery. Raid one night, the preacher was a preachin' and saId that uh, this fella tuck a plne-pole and made s uh, tote rack for a neck and bed where it'd come down here (motion) like his heed. He hed a pIece cut come r1f'ht back up here and shaped here like a horse's neck and had thet tote sack (IVer that pole. And the preacher, the window wns back In church .ie~,' like It is and naid that prn8cher was prechin' that nl gh t. Al-oog-aoo-weel Tho wind was shoutin' and this here fella had thIs long pine pole come right up to the back window and the wIndow, dIdn't have no glass window wbere you could raise 'em then. And he poked that pole right in behind the prescher in the pulpit and knickered it jes' like a hoss and that preachor, the members couldn't git out throup:h the doe quick enough. That preacher didn't know where it was a heunt or what~ See, he's jes' run that hoss's head right by the, through the window, see here the pUlpit jes' like that and he run that pine pole through the window I;here a t the pulpi t and the pX' ea cheX' looked a round and seen 807. 867. itt Tore up the church and said the officers of the church believed it was him. But the only thang wbat saved him, be that fella tbat done it went bome went to bed. Tbe officers went rigbt down tbere to see if he was home and if he badn't been in bed they'd bad bim. And said be told 'em by ten yeaNl after. P,ee, they'd a put him in the cbain-gang for 'bout five or ten years dlsturbin' public worship, ya know. But only what saved him, he was In the bed when tbey got down there. He beat the officers to the home. One time, say one time the preacher when he, when these T~model Fords first come out sald uh, the preacher was walkin' be lived from a sto' and uh, along come a man in one these T-models Fordn and tben he stopped and says, says, "Say, Reverend," said, "You want a ride'!" He said, "Yea, how far you goin' y" He said, "I'm ,jes' goin' right up here at the sto'." And so he said, nJum in and rlde." And SO he jumped in and got up and said, "I'm @'one stop right and gi t out." Fore he got out after he got in this fella had a cigarette, tbis here fella drivin' the car. Pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one and said, "S~y, Reverend, you have one?" He said, "Naw, no thank yoU.'" Said, "If God hed intended for men to smoke he'd a put a smokestack in the top of his heed." And so he said, "Thenk you." The man that wes drivin' the car, he said, he got on up the road and the preacher said, "Say friend, I'll pit out right here." And so after he got out, he stopped and got of it and he started walking down. The preacher, u.n, this man turned around that had the car and said, "Wait a minute, Reverend" said uh, he said, "I want tell you one thang." Said "if God woulda intended for a man to ride all the time he'd put four wheels right under him." ' ' So a fella always got, somebody else always got somethin' else to match ya back, ain't that right. Yessuh. Said one time, yea, here what I's aiming' at. Said one ~ime they's two fellas. They wasn't no Christian folk but, ~' ou kn,ow, lot of people in the world can liberate, speak jes' ike a preacher and you think he was a preacher that can \ reach and they ~in't no Christian either, but they jes' got a talent to d'liver. And so, was two fellas out travellin' and they got out of money and uh, and he went into a ci ty, place where they's at. People didn't know 'em. They thought they was preachers. And he told the people tha t he, conI d 11bera te and speak so that he, that if they'd meet him on a Sunday night, that that he would rr each for' em on that Sunday night. Well, the elders and the members got together and 'greed to let him preach that Sunday night. He's outa money, but he didn't tell 'em he's outa money. And his bUddy was out in another place, but he knowed, his bUddy knowed he was gain' to preach that night so they was a big church congregation of folk and said he tuck his text out in the pUlpit and started to take hlrl text, "He that see, me, know me, says nothing, and I'll see him araln." (Repeat) And you know the people thought that was in the Blble. But what he meant when he opened the Bible to take hls text his bUddy come in at the do', he (laugh) his bUddy comin in the dOl when he took hls text, he meant after he preached and took up thecollectlon, he'd see hlm again. But he dldn't want anybody say'n anythlng 'bout him not beln' a preacher. Ah-oooo-ooo-wee that man could l1berate on that text. And uh, when they, when the next day some of the members got together said uh, they said "wasn't no such text such as that in the Bible." But his text, he didn't want his buddy to say notbin' 'bout him. TAm 2 77. They told this on a preacher. Now I ought not to tell it, it's a funny joke, but I ought not to tell it. Said the preacher one time was preach!n' and it was a and he was, and it was a man tbat uh, said it was two men and this other fella was a, wouldn't no Christian, but he friendly, loved to give money and said that preacher preached and the fella was in there listenin' at him, said that after they got through mee tin' and come au t dues said tha t the young fella said ho had plenty of money. He said 1'1 tell ya Reverend, I tell ya one thang," soid uh, "yOll sho' did preach a damn p:ood ser'men." 1 The Reverend seid to hIm, says "~ey, say, friend, don't Xalk that way. You're on church 1"Y'ouons." Soid, "YOll'S on 9hu r'ch grOUrH1n," ! But he heen usin', the preacher been ustn' (that th reason ~. say the preacher sometimes Iises some words that the church lILs. Idon't know nothin' 'bout. And sometimes he let 'em slip when he ain't thinkin'). Said preacher sa~d (Actually means the other man) "Uh, I put, the reason I said you preached s p:ood sermon, I put, I put $50. in that, in that nollectlon." An.d the preacher turn aroun' naid, "What?" Sald, "Reason I said you preached a good sermon, I put $50. in there." He said (preacher), "The hell you f1syt" See, the prescher sald that, f10metimes s fella he fore he 'member he used a lot of words, the members know nothin' about. And sometime when he get in particulsr pIsces he use some 'dem words he had when he obscurity from the members. 117. And they told about, I heard that one told sbout one time the man ever time the uh, he F.o to church he'd shout ever time the preBcher'd preach. It WRS back yonder, he'd shoutt And ub, and so he ever time, so, so, the decona. told hil11' one time said "Now, brother, if you 8:0 to church don't shout today, if you don't shout, we'll buy you a pal.r of boots. We'll buy you a brand-new pair of boots if you don't shout today. Now if you don't shout today we'll buy you a brand new pair of boots.'" "Alright, Alright, Alrightt 1'11 do that." So he went on to church that Sunday and said that other man, the preacher got to preachin' so, and uh, and preacher p:ot to talkin' 'bout Lord, he said, "Boots and no boots I'm goona praise God." And they didn't buy him none, he's al ri ght if they bough t him some he's gone pra i s eGad. Sa id "Boots or no boots, I'm gonna shoutt~ 19. FOLK SONGS SUNG BY MR. WILLIAM GIBSON 13 "If I could Hear My Mother Pray Again" 51 "Darlin I Nellie Gray" ]DO "Lonesome Road Blues" (Woody Guthrie) 130 "Bearcat Pappa" 162 '''Three Night Experience" 210 "I Saw the Light" 234 "Some Glad Mornin"' ("When thin Life is Over") 250 "When the Roll i,s Called Up Yonder" 292 "Coon ~ Coon t Coon V' The Lamen ta tions of a Nigger'" 386 "The Old Cane Press" 420 "Seven Years wI th the Wrong Woman" 468 "That's All" 562 "Shake Hands with Mother AgaIn" 610 Fiddle Instrumental 640 "bay There by the Juniper" (sung by Ron Miles) 747 "Railroad Bill" 807 "He Touched Me'" (sung by Mr. Gibson's daughter) 860 "Luna ti c' s Lullaby" 921 I'A Long Steel Rail Bnd a Short Cross Tie'l 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 inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.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 languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. 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