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Note: this recording contains religious slurs and outdated racial terminology. In this recording, Ben Uncle Bill Willingham shares childhood memories, stories, songs, and poems. He starts by recalling his childhood on his family farm in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, where they grew peanuts and corn. He shares that he learned many of these songs and stories from his Uncle, a fiddle player. Then he tells some folk tales and fables about animals. At minute 15:46, Willingham explains the term "working song" and sings a few he learned when working in the fields as a young man. Next, at minute 18:45, he discusses how oral traditions fade over time. At minute 21:07, he remembers working for a Confederate widow who taught him songs from the war, a few of which he sings. Next, at minute 24:00, Willingham explains that he has always been affiliated with the Baptist Church, then at 33:22 he starts singing gospel music and hymns. Until 41:09 minutes, he continues to sing and tell folktales and stories, first about animals on his farm, then funny preacher and other religious tales. He also recalls his enslaved, paternal grandmothers history, who was part Native American. At minute 58:35, Willingham says that his father was 10 when he learned that he was no longer enslaved. Next he sings additional songs and tells children's stories, including stories his enslaved ancestors told, as well as scary stories. At hour 1:14:30, Willingham reminisces about working for a Jewish family in Atlanta, Georgia. Then at hour 1:33:33, he says that his employer, Mrs. Harris, was born in England and immigrated to the United States because of Jewish persecution during World War I.
Benjamin Uncle Ben Willingham (1877-1975) was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, to Ollie Willingham (1853-1929) and Ann Josie Willingham (1857-1921). He worked as a farmer, rock mason, and pipe cleaner. In 1896 he married Bessie Willingham (1874-1928), and they had two daughters, Maggie (1897-?) and Addie (1903-?). Willingham married a second time after his first wife died. Several years before he died, he moved to the Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked as a lawn mower. He was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and died in DeKalb County. Carol Glimer (approximately 1948- ) graduated from Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia, then from Georgia State University. Additional biographical information has not been determined.
A Collection of Stories, Songs, and Biography from Uncle Ben by, CallO]! Gilmer fall' Mn. BurriJson Folklorc7 301 May 18, 1970 i I j j I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I This papol' :10 a c()llcct:Lon of ctori.os arId sorl~s~ told Ll,nd Ht"lng rCf:lrJceti.voly b JT Don Wil1:i.nghEtm.. In-t(:-Jrsporf:Jed :i.ll tho oollo(;tion aro biogrr"llhical infol'mati on fJ.!.Hl rocolleotions. Pictures of Unole Bon, as he in called. and UG I havo callnd 1111"11, lJX'C enclosod. ElS v/011 as p:Lctures ofb.in .horne" I found Unol0 Bon to b01 a vory warm and pl()H.Gon.t I)eX'fJo.n. He tcl1$ his 8to1':108 v/i-illl v:L{so:c o..11d. laughter, scck:LnC to orrl1ortnin tho li.H"lIon.cr and himftl).lf D,S weI.I" Ho ~jH 93 yon.rs old r-1,.n.d hnB gotton his f.d:;()1"lio8 froln an old oral traditj on, tb.e tracutj on thut preo()nded him for many generations, r-r.'ho nlD,tcn:' i.El,l WFJD co11actnd on thos(~ c1.:1f:J:ox'()nt ()Ccn.f~j"OnfJ: AiJril 25, 1970 at 1970 at ]:10 PM. 10: 30 l\M, Winy 1, 1'no at 3; 00 1l':' I roco):ld.ed 'Lhe firEjt nJrtiJorJ.rtl a.-ti and Wiay 4, th.e horne of lVlrfJ. CalhcnJn, a WOnlEl,11 he d008 YTI,:t:"d \\101"lk for, and 'Lho f~uec(-)odi.ng sQGs:i..o.ns woro at his homo on 500 AulJ'urn Avenue, AtlfJ.n"l;a, Goorg:La. HiE! tolGphone nUlllbor :is 522-7'522. I memo to m,~)ot my inform:),nt through Wir, Bvrr:LfJon who referrod me to a lady who JIilOWfJ him. :lVlS' qU.8ut:tons as well as tHy oonUllent8 to him ar(~ c:nel.oDD(} in :paronth()s::ts .. Apri.l 25, 1970, 10: 30 .AM First I.n.torvio'll ,- s:i.do .1: 000 SOlIt':; BcnT, V/EAVE:L Boll wOiwo1, 130lJ Wonvol look wha,t you dono dOlIO oat up B.II my cotton. Dtgrtod on my corn. 1Vlorehant went to.. 1 1 1 J'Jaoe d.o;y oall Goose Pond. (lIow old aro you?) 93. (You worl') 1J01T\ in vlhat yoar?) 1877, 12th 8. .Jarmary . (What dj,d you do when you woro in OgJ.othorpe (l, ",1- COVJ1ty?{)) (~Nlhnt ]{tnd of work did y(ll;! do?) W(JIl my fH,tho:c and. UfO, .wo farnlCc1. (And wha'b kind of woy'k did you do nftGr you rnovod to AtJ.antn?) 1 wont worJdne; fo dG p:ipG shop. (And are thoso tho only 2 Idnds of work y'ou I vo been doing?) '//011, I worlc fer do citY" a wh:ile wid de rock maSOYtfJ ~ Mado mortar for de rock mason fer a wJ:.dlo. (And. how many yoars cUd you. do that?) I d:i.dn I t do de.1; but 8-bov:b ]. ;year. (And where d:Ld you lOEl,rn your storiGs from.?) Mam? My ole unole use to pl8-Y 101m on do fiddle. (Am) did. he play i.. t to your whole fam:Lly?) Yes. (Do you toJ.) tho ntorios to your ohildren? ) Vlhcm dey was at homc). (And you've boen ret:i.r'ed sinoo when?) Vlell I retired when I wns 65, I 8,jn I t worked a:b d.0 pipe shop no me sinoo don. (And what kind of work do you do now?) I geli SOnl.e IHeat HJ1.d m.oal" farmor you got 'boll woavelG in. your' Biography I vm.s 'born in Oglethorpo County down below Athon.s. 008 J's,rmor wont to morohgnt 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 out fJ.. little grFJ..:3fJ for d:Lfferont ~pGo})le. (lIow many timos havo you. b()on [o81":('iod.?) I boon 1 married. twice. (And you havo how Ills.ny childron?) Not but 2. (Do you do dancos?) I have d8nood 1mt I dOJ1.'b danco now, 1 (Where did you learn your dalIcos?) Well we use to havo 1>8,rti08 at our house. W.helI we was chillun my dadd.y use to giVI 1 1 1 1 34 (What kind of dances do you do?) You }lad to dance separate danoes wid de girl.. You had to dance wid de g:Lrls. You had to dance wid tho girl.f3, You. had to l,ay , pu;y fer u su.pper. (Vn10;1; were the names of thi, dancos that; ;you showed lUe?) It was a ,Jim Crow. (Which was the othc0r?) ,Toe ReEld. (What wero y'ou saying?'- That you oould danoo the words that you wore taJkLng?) Dat Ji,n Grow, I would ma],e nw foet say what m;y mouth say. I I I I I I 43 Story: HOW THE ROOS'mnD'(OlJlm 'rIlE RABBIT I I I I I I I I I I I I I roll:Lng under ~Jtu,()k 51 sto:r'y: TAU BABY [j'rOUy Mr. Hal)bit ho t.ot to oat~n' lip Mr ,) JVfr. Viol:!" s butter and APter' nb he Vlent doro(at)de buttor ono day and ho saw Bomothing f3tw,ding doro 100:1:. l:jJ(() a little boy or fJomothing. And 1'W , tkt' I" say::you ]lettor grd; away from, doro 'foro I kiok you down. And . . Y!Ml by <'\M'.. I ho wouldn't move" lVir. Habb:d dO.no tr;y to lnek }':L1n. fl'oot utu4 .sn ~ /1 to him, And he, I got 8J'lOth.ar foot hex'o It.. will tear y'ou I to "iecos if I ~dek ;;rou v'I:i{thhu;:1 And ho JCiel(~:~n,d dab am} it ". 'I. If . I So f:inn11;y don be DeUel, :If I butt you, nu.y)youllJ I I I I Mr. Hooster, he hurr.:Led on down there to de log and Mr. Habbit OCl,lne lator. 1\11:', Roos'l;er had hi.s head his wing, vmlIdng around dara talking, [Mr. Roosbr had his hao.d under his wing and walking arm.nd dere talldngJ Nfr. Rabbit he w8J:k all ar01md, lVlr. Rooster oou1dn't sce his head. lIe say;J~r. Roostor where your J) 'I hoad doing all t1'1.i8 toJJ;j,nc;? Ho Bai.d~ I cut off and 10ft it at home fer my wife to comb it till I corne baok.'1 j; {it Mr. Ha])bit BaY,woll I'm"snmrt a man as ~(ou; I'm gwine. I If h.omo and lot my wife eu:lim'irlo off and oomb it till I como baek. Mr. HabM.'t be{god his w:U'o to cLrt his head of:!', She say,') you'll d.i.o if lout .your hC3ad off (' "~)ay,"Mr. RoofJor o(r\,y't doad] he wal]\lj) n' arcmnd r,wid 1'1:i.s head under down'j' Oi'nP\t do ~...,__ t. Jog rol1en talken wid no head on:1 And his wifo cut his }lfJad off. He i/lado 1 jurnJ\ da,es all ho dOnij f bo done forever:" And he hauled be,ok and buttocl de 'tar baby mid ho eaught his head. And he eoulcln' t move don. Mr. Wolf eome and eaught him fastened to de tar baby and carried him to de housc) and tolc~ him he was gw:lnc to burn him. next mornin. Hc kept h:i.m up dore. He got to cryin down in de l1if;ll"~. And he call him, fle eall to lVir. Hallbit. He sa,Y, "vihat you eryin fex'?" {-He_7 Said, "I' rn fleared you gw:i.ne to greaBEJ my head and throw me in de briar pa:teh in de mornin." And l'IJr. Wolf though he hat\' dat flO bad da:t' fl what ho was gwino do. Next mornin he grease de head and throw him in de briar pateh and he broke off and flaid, "difl whore I was breed and fJOrn. " And 1\11'. Wolf caught him again as he went to go through de crack of do fenco. Caught him be do leg. He lau,gh, he flay, "you think I got my leg; you got do fonco leg," He turned his log a looso and ole Habbit got mva"T anyhow. And cot him again and put him in dc) sael,. And Mr. Fox was eomin down do road. Ho look through de sack and saw lVir. Fox. Mr. Fox he alway'; oat up little pigs and thought that it was a young pig L in the sach: J. And lVIr. Fox he eat um up ya know. "Say lVJr. Fox, sa;y take me out difl SHelL I'll "I;ell ya where derc's ole sow wid 9 pigs." lVfr. F'ox tuk him out de sack. Show him, carried him, went close 'nough to show JVlr. Fox de stump. Well a ole dog had 9 llUl,!d.es, a big ole honNY. And lVIr. Fox jum)Jed up on dat stump, dat hound jUtilllOd up and run on by Mr . .Rabbit. He flay, "where's Mr. Fox? I want to talk to you." "lain' t got no time to talk now." You see he done put hi m Ul) on dFd; houl1d ya see. He didn't have no time to taJ.k. 80 Story: 'rIlE TU.RT1E AND THI~ HABBIT De turtle and de rabbit dey el3.8 ooaten a gj"l~l down to d(') river and Mr. Turtle he got somebody to be at every corner. Hs,cl another tlll'tle to lJe at evory Gorner and overytime NIX'. RFJ.bbit got to a. corner and 8,sk fer NIr. Turtle, he say, "Mr. 'l'urtle clone gone." Wlr. Turtle) beat him down to de river d()l1 D.nd got de girl. But den o.h NIr. Fox and WIT'. HalJbit was e08.ten a g:irl amI FJ,h Mr. Fox. tole NIl:'. Habbit tolo dc~ girl JV[J:', :Wox was his r:l.don hor8e ya soo. And dey went on down doro. And cl.oy )wpt on Ed; JV[r. Fox lot's go soo do girl and got down about to do girl'8 houso. And JV[r. Ji'OX got 8ielc ho say j " lV[r. Rab])it yell' '11 have to lot me git up on your back:1 Said, "I'm si.ok.1I iVIr. Ra]Jbit tulr him UJ) on hi8 back. And when ho (';ot down do rabbit ,jumped off and was walking baol, over to #i 1:\/1 .J d.G norch. Say; I toldi\IVfr. Fox was my r:i.ding hor8G.' M.ado hi8 word tru() ya know. Mado li.ko he sick till he Git n chanco to gil, up on Mr. Fox back toll him to jUJrrp off on tho girl's poreh. 99 Song: NESTS Bird bu:i J..I; de ne8t in do tOll of de troe. P088um built tho ne8t in do hollor. Squirrel tore do loavos :from 1 im]) to limb ane] de rs.bbU; had to tal(() all de weather. 102 Bi.ography I j1J8t say dCl word8 and dance when I was used to daneing. (CHn you SHy tho words to it?) I\'iy old Miss and. 2,3 moro mado do oaloulD.tion to jump ,Tim Crow. Somo talks too fa8t and rJomo too slow., Satne "GE1,lIts thing do.t de;\, do not hnow~ I usod to dnnoo dat Joe Reod botter than anybody eOI 1eL 116 ~;ong: OI,D NED Lay down your shovel and. your hoe and hang up de fiddlo and de bow. And no mo work foJ:' ole man Ned. Says ho's gwine vvhoro de good darkj.E~s C:O CI He had .no hair on do top of his he~ad , p1aco for whore do hair ought to grow. IIad no teoth to (Jo. t do corn calw and ho had to lot de corn eako be. 131 story: TlII': SMAH'P HOOSTJi:ll Doy di.dn' t hovo many fryen ch:l.ckoDS. And sll(" , h<-) stayc'd deI'o til 1 day fri e-)d up all de chickons but do 010 I'OOfJteI' and do hon. And do ole lo.dy tolo hoI' husband, flay, I.:;it somo corn And eatoh dat 010 roostor. And got do earn 1.H1d. ole .J:'oostor pock a litt10 eorn and look oven." doro u.nd soy;it I soo ya.#tJ A.Dd 1 c<r> Ci~!. S.lO ,.>e<.y"to1-"1- d 0 e ]10pper ax and. 1D..]...J. h1'.111. A. n d h._ 0 .]Ja<1 d 0 ()1!.Oppor /. ax under his ar'm. He throw 8, litt1e corn to de ole rooster, De rooster pock 8. little corn 100];: bEl,O]{ dero, say,Ii I see ya ," Ho 1mow dey' had de chopper ax ya know, And nhe say, throw dat chopper ax at hi.m B,nd kill him, So he throwed do ohopper ax at him and missed him. De ole rooster hollered, I'dat's just what I thought, Dat' fcl just wh8,t I thought:' " Dey had ah. do ole man had de chopper ax unclor his arm, throwec1 a li-bt1e corn at de rooster. Ole roostor 100)< over dore say I see ya.. After a whil0 (10 010 lady say,Ii why don'-b you throw cle ole chollpor a.x at him and kill him?'/ Dey throwod de chopper ax at him 8.ncl missed him. He said do;t's just what I thought, do;I;' s jus't what I thought. Ho -!;hough'b doy was gwino throVi do chopper ax at him ;'!a )010W, He tole um dat t s just what he thought, 146 Biography (Roferring to stories), Doy {;ot off my mind after I got so ole y'a know. (You can't toll 8,S many stor:ies now. You don't remembor them?) See we used to, we lwed to .I.lUt daVin corn, p08,jmtfJ 1:\.],e us wants to git something from de other, from O1Jr brothers, ya Jmow. And ah it countfJ how many poanuts in de line B,S ya go down, soe. "'!hat's dut'? Nothing. What t 8 dat? Ole man Jdlled de coo eoCl 1il0 away dc corn." J-!<c) dono got your poanuts and doy r' ot your .peanu;bs. Do:l; 010 man coo eoo lila away do earn. Dey got 20 f51'ay, 20 {obors like dat ;ya know. Didn't, wOlJ.ldn't soo him but yB, oOI,nt up on dore. :i'1vc')ry' time ya toll dat eraz,y coo 000 mo away de corn ;vou got a,nother gober ya 1mow. Whon, sorta liko ain t t not.hine; on do l:ino. Say "'II'hat' 13 dnt? S8,y nothing'" V!l.18;t' fi dnt'? Nothing. Ole man ki.ckod do coo coo mo away de corn~1I (What does tha-t moan?) Sc)() doy pu.t yo, in do othcJr' room and tol.l y'ou whon to rna dat corn, -I;e11 ya when to mo d.at poanut. Anything l:i.lm dat. Yn koel) it :in your mind. Count how O1OJ1Y done loft yn, soo. And ya C.i t to one ya. call d.o c1eron 000 coo to lila away do eorn. /0. 170 :,tory: '['HE J:lUZZARD AND TIlE MONK8Y De bUZ7,o.ro. tole de monkey, asked do monkey did he want a ride, And de monkey tole him yea. Go'b up on his baek and he ge to fly in all kind of ways wid do menkey. When de monkey eome up to oho1mn him don. ITe tole de mon1wy U Ii Ii .J SD,JI' you oholwn me. Ho say, well s'braighton up and drive j' right: H.e Dbout tole de lilon1wy off yB, seo, dipp:i lIe; all difforerrt ways yn 1m.ow. Ole monkey' t010 him strrJ,j,ghton u:p and dr:ive right and ohokod him ya know. 178 Iho,'Sraphy' (Do you th:ink that ohang:i.ng times has made, will make people ferge'(; these talos? Or de yeu think they'll last?) Oh yes'um. Yeu seo de older ya cit de shorter YOl.lr thin1dn is yn know, de 01 eJer ya gi t (Do yOI' ch:lldrc~n imow HE! nlnny storieB as you learned?) \\'011, no ~ DEd; olc1(~Jst; c1r::i1..lt1Jtcr, slJ.o dE-)o,d.. ~)hC) could. ilhinlr of somo, somet; moo to tell ya. But, but de othor dHuc;h'l;er, she Jive :in Kentuc1cy. She ain't dead. She had 2 oh:i11un. (Do you think that foJ.kG i.n the nit.1 '(;eJ 1. HfJ many stor:i.es D.S foJ 1m in the country'?) Wlam? (Quest:i on X'epeatnd) Uh, I don't know. . (Do you h.nar as man;y stori es in the o:i.ty?) No, not 8,S many as yo, d:Ld in d.e country. (How come'?) I don't; 1mow, (Do you think that lleeple change tha stori,Cls or do ;,'ou th:Ln1( you tell tbem like yoUJ~ father told them?) Yea, I could. tell some of urn l:iJm my fH.ther used to tell uo , ya 1010W. (Did YOllr uncle tell the otor:i.os the same way that your father cUd?) lifo rnam. lVi;,' uncle he pJay \I1usie, he made IilUEde on de fiddle. Ho play 8.11 kinds of tunes on the fir1clle. 1961'oern: 'rHE JUNJi: DUG AND 15 CEN'I.'S DeX'e I:J H june (11)g he took his girl to do grl3.nd ball room. S.he cUn'"t hD.VO buL 15 nC1JJ"ts. ShE) got on do fleor. He calle d for moro. He didn't have bU'b 15 cents. Said she oalled for five he thoogh"t he would d:Le. lIe d:i.dn' t have\)u'b 15 cO.nhJ. Man nl3.uc;ht by d01 hand, lend. him tlu'O'ugh de door. He didn't have but 15 oents. So dey [3tuek him eross do head wid a 2 by 4. He eUcJn' t have-) but 15 eents. She snid~fdon 1 t tr,y da'!; ') tV/Joe, I tuk m,l' nap a'lmy t a do 205 Bioc;rr[lJhy (Did tho whi to folks in "tho C01Jntr'y tclJ_ tho Wi.lIW nl;oI'itlf) as tl1(J co10rt,cl folks?) )\[0, not (3.11 of um. (1l:Ld you oVOP toll some whito childron any storios?) V/hi to, 010, ",hi-~o lady, 8. white Indy lOf!t hoI' hl.Jr:iJ:-uld in do (JonfCclrato War, I used to 1w chnrning for ho:c and. T learnt 80nlD Gongs sho 1J8C(l. "lIo 8i.n.g ,yT), l,l'j()Vl. ])o,"G ole? l>J.g 010 ohurn. T Y1FJd to d8.sh up and clown dio awny ya know. Sho VI oulcln 't lot mo ohnrn fn.st. Sho IHl I'wJ)(on. n1lOut, fJingi.n dom ole COLlfede:r.D:te songH, ~ya }<now I 214 f) one;: rpin,; G()l\lF:rmJ~RA TJi; ~10NG Oh de groon oofroo growed in the whitc oak troo. De river all flowod. wid bram]y. And do :poc]w all overlaid vd c1 e,old and do girls all swoetor c]on candy. sr:wk on m:l lJEtck, rifle on my shoulder. Wlarch New Orleans, dore I bo a soldior. Oh wlJon its all ovor wid. turn back 8,t do plnco whEH'c) dat wo fjrs-t s-tar-God. Droal, de ring and shoot a oouplo men and loavo us broken hearto (1. 219 Biography (Informant cont1nu()8 talking about tho woman ho ch1H'lJ.od for,) Dat was 010 MhJS Brimly. Sho WD.S a groat bit: 010 fat woma.l1. Sho 'd have mo ehurning. VIouldn I t lot' me ohurn faw~. (Vlell, did you loarn any athol' 80ngs from whi'w follm?) Da-t ono abou'l; de t"roe, dat one 10s-~ her hU8band. in do boat, do boatman. 222 Song: :BOATJVlII.N (Tapping foot (luring song ) ;Jay, boatman, bO[c1tman, toll me true. Is my doar Willie on do boat wid you'? ;!a,y', no, no, no, ho '8 not horo. He drownded j_n somo deep rivor. ;Jho wrung hoI' hand.s 8,1Id toro hoI' hair. Sa;y 8, verso to do II OJ':'c1, poor Willie vVE\S c1e;r'G" She "tl,lck a pon and inl, in hand and wroto down li.ne by lino and overy lino sho ,'hc-Jc] H t08,r 8.nd ev(Zry tear vms Willie my d.ear. l'!orah. Who build de Ark'!' [lay Arh:? Norah. Say' Norah build 227 l\iography ('Onclo Ben what church do you go to?) I belong to the Tabernacle on J30ulevard and Ranton. (What kind of G.hurch is it'?) It's a Baptist Church. (Did you go to a BaptiBt Church whon you lived over in Ogelth0rI)e county?) Oh, y'eB mam. We didn't live far frem de Church. We wont to church every Sunday when we waB chillun. (So ya'll were rcl:,giouB,' ya'll wont to Chureh re(!;ularly'?) Mothor takon UB to do Churoh eV('Jry Sunday ya ]mow. (Vlell did ;you learn any Btorios at tho ChurCh, any Btories liJco you've ])een 'Gelling me'?) No rnam, I didn't hlarn any at de Church. Vie haCJ. to go to de mournor' s honoh at de church. And folks pray fer ya. All had to bow down to do mournor's bench. 252 Song: PRAY ON Oh JYPE1.y on, don't get tired. I-Iallelu, hallelujah. Oh do s:i.Gter's nama been writton in de Kingdom. HalhJlu, hallelujah. (I( !) Pray on and don't get tired. Hallelu, hallolujah. Pray on and don't get tired. Hall('llu, hallelu,jah. 253 Biography But <ley sing dom ole song 8.bout a de ah dom hymns. Cit a crowd of um togethor sinp;on dom hymns make ya feel good. (So this is what you sang at home wh(m you li.ved with your f(),r,\ily in Ogelthorpe County.) Oh yea I used to beplowen dat mule and hear me singen behind dat mule plow<'ln. (Did you have nay songs that wont with games that you used to Bing when you were a lit'l;le hoy with tho ohi.1dren you uBed to play vlith?) No I used sing behind mY' mo'ther and Ir~y aunt.. Ur;Jo to sing' bou:t ole NOI'r:J,h ya kn.ow 0 270 Song: NOAH [,ay, who build de Ark'? Norah,rtlY I,oI'd. Who l.JUild de (0) AJ."k da't day. SaY' de vor;v fiJ~Bt thing dat Norah dono O'Llt his 'timbor 0.0'1'111. Seoon th.ing dat Norah 0.01'10 1'ut .his t:iml1or down. Who build de Ark? }Iforah. Who Imild do Ark? Vlho built do Ar],'? SeW Norah. flay Norah Say Norahjtly I,ord. huilt do Ark dnt day. 384 Biography: My mothor was an 010 Virginia woman. My gl'andm.othor I f1l0JfJ.n, my dadd.y I smother. Sho como from Virginia. And he C;ivo ~n, 500 for hoI' whon he bought hoI'. Used buy just IH:o doy buy a horso and mulo. J3j(1 fer um ya know. One dat ono pay do most for em. If d(~y likos um do;y 1my mo fol' sOlJle don dey would fo:(' do others ya soe. My Grandmother marri(~d to ole man WLLlinghafil_[~ivo ~~l, 500 for hoI' and she marriod. 4 'bimes Hnd died a widow. Her first husb8.nel no.meeJ.,,, 105 (Whon s.ho cUod). HoI' first huslJand she married was namod Who;tloy Willingham. Next was Chos1ie Willinghn.m. Next one namod Mosos Stone. I,ast one she filarried named. Phil Cambell. (Were the first 2 related?) No de firBt 2 dey wercm't rolated, hut dey all belongs to de ~Vi.l1tngh,:\,ms yo, s(-)o. (Wore all tho folkB before you colorcJd folks, or wero th(,);1' rnj,x. nlu.rriod or what?) Well my n\Othor was a Coosley. my f8.thor vms 8. \'lillingl18.m. My grancllnothor was part In.dian. She had lOIlg hair my gI'8.11.dmothor did , como all down on hoI' shoulder. I uBed to love to :p1ny wid her hair, eorn}) .her hoaa. And oho "INa,s good to her granc1chiJJ.un. Didn t t CEl,r(~ wb.at I uat a.nel when I eomo to my e;randmotheX' I want somC)th:i.ng to C)at wtlOn I got dC)ro. DO.n 't caro who I done cat wid. If I got Bomoth: i.lli'; to Clnt do;t botter an any1lOel;lT. Dey say she) was pa.rt IncHnn. (Doem all ;Y:(H;ir fand 1.1 eornC) :frorn down llC)re in the South'?) Ycn urn" Woll (Ie follCB Bay dC) yanldccs thought dC) rC)8.[)on doy havcc dat war. So.y ele yanlde[) th.onght mOEJt of de Colored anel Our .Gontiles (lid. But do ynnlcios eUdn't think no more) 1mt . Ya soo whon do de yanktcs earricd. UID., doJr de fi:cst; o:nos got u.p from OV(-)l"l acror:JS do follw dow.n nOI ;tlJ do \V8,tcr. Yn suo dD ycl,nk.-L(3S and S110V1 to I.IY.'I(1' c..l'c-''y' P<..;)()t'I teJ ~".,l.!"j_ .I_'l!~-''" B._o ."1,0. ''-I'Cf.j-I'j (',)',n,_e.'1. ('le' -"[.(J.ll..)r..d,.) WD.S IlJnJ,,:on lHon.0;Y- o:f:f of um. t And do Yrlnk LOR got ~j0DJ_()U8 D,nc1 de clntro.(l a wax D.gnj.:rlfTI; urn ~yn, knoVl 'J IVII\\' 1, 1970, 3:00 I'M f)(~conc1 Intorviow - ~jide 1: 3~3 Song: A DIG D],[\CK COON FHOWI 'j'ENNT':m:mD; A big b111Gk coon from '['onuosFloo. Hot s jmrl; wiokod afl ho could bo. Ho cUd not bol.ieve in c;huroh. nnd Sunday s;ehool. Wol1 he went out to Church one drW callod on him to pray'. Ho lived [10 fer frolH God to man, he dicln' t Jm.ow what to flay'. Bays I'm gwino to live in He11 until I clie. Tho lifo I'm 1:iving is .not so VOX!y hic.;h 4 0a~y (Ie sticks and do stan.os lM~)JY bo on my' bOn(lF). I .know .your gUjino to tnlk about :U, when I'm gono. I'm gw:Lno to 1:ivo anyhow until I d.:Lo. 3~7 Jhoc;l.o,phy: (Vfhoro did you loarn that sonc;?) Woll, I loarnod it whon my o]e nne]" use to pln.y all dorn songs on do f:i ddlo yo. Jmow. (Wh.oro clid he lonrn tho song?) W()ll I Jewt learn it from him. (Where do you think he loarnod it from?) I don't know. JJe Ufle to e,o 'round play for de whito felJr's partiofl Jli.m and anether fel10w namod IJoflter Max UfJO to :plny de accordion. Ho 1we to J)lo.y do fiddle. (Woll de you know something olse you wnnt to S).nc; :for us?) I think o:f ono d:irootly. 3'73 Bong; JlAIViDON]~ Sf:lyS Jl.ambone, hr).rnho.ne J.f3 f~woet" IJarllbo.D.o is SW(-:-}ot" Haoan good mCD;t" E1aid. I nevor WTMJ GO 118,~)})Y all do dD..y"S of my' life" Sars, com.\) ntepp"ing clown de line" Httc1. C1.. great big h8.m.'~ 1)on8 :in b.er hand WflS guod e.nol.1.gh to l:l.ve on all do -"inlo II nays hambone is sweet" Bf:tcon Lood m.c:38,t;" l)o~-1nu.rn iff elirn,b:i ng very' fj no, .Novor Vm,fJ DO hnppy Hll de d~\\,[J of IllS lifo. 1J~:t11 Dara come stepping down do lino (> Creat big hu.rll bono :Ln her band.. It good enough to J.ivo on 0,11 do t:i me. Do whi.te man he shot mo tlu'(Jugh do ernek of de f(:)nce" But ho Yl8Ver left dCl,t m.:Ln,nor on the grind ~ , Ii .. 282 Biography (Unelo Bon, boforo Vie had this prolllemwith th0) tape recorder, you wero talking about sometldng you saw in tho nOWGIlD.por. ) Ya'll {,;ot c1nt }Joll Weavel on doro? Did ya':U forget it? (Yoa, I think we've [';ot it. Its the first one you sang.) Ya' 11 got c1nt about do eoon lmiJ:b his nest in de top of ck tree. (Yos, I thin]( flO.) (Can you tell GOIHO Btories today?) VIl'w:b? U;Olile Btories.) Yon 0 L Iloo)rs D:t taDo reeo:r'(}er. J (Don It wo:r.ry about thn.t Unclo Ben. Pretend it I S not hore. ,Just take your time.) 436 fltory: 'rHE ROOfJTI{H AND TIm HEN Ole rooster and do his hen waD down on de bottolile pooldn yn know 0 A.nc] de ole hawll com caught de hon a..nd de (10) hon holler fer de roostor'. ~)ft;y? "S0.V(3 me ~ GEtVO me t II And de ole rooster vr>nt, run to de house. ~)Fl.:Ld? "Good God. oJ,Jl1i,ght;ybetter talce CIIre of yovrsc"l:f! c: ood c: oc) almighty bottc-)r take care of yourself!" He tole dc hen she bot tor take eD.re yourself yo., know. ITe left. Do hmvk hnd de }w.n nnd ho 10ft. 433 :BiogrD,phy (Unole Ben, do you know anYIH'cxloher tales, tales about the proi obor .. Di.d yn' 11 over t,)11 tnles about "bho pre8,ohor or the pn.rson?) 44-2 stm'y: 'I'HE InDDING 01" 'I'HI~ PHEACIUm doY'c EJ.l10U.t a week Q to [J, lady I fl }lOU.sO Q barrel and. all do flour say" 1 "Wo go Do boy 10okc-) d in clo Wl:lS nbout gono. And ho Once 0., preo,oher \von'[; boys~ J\nc] ho rrbay()r} to hun.ting, get our gun D..nd [','0 i/o hvntJn.g. An.d we 001'0,0 back horo and run dat pro:: ehor mva.y from hO:l:'e. II And doy WOl1t to hunti.ng and OOlHe bG.e\(. One of dom oorne bac\(. ITo shot up nJlovo do <100:1::'. 110 fl1.D,1eo :L:U({) he fJl'looton h.is l)roth()I' yo, kn.ow .. lI:nd do p:co!wher sa:Ld, "Good Goc] ,'J,Jrn.:i.{';hty', SI-lX, dcwe :1:'oll1s c;ono CJ:'flZy., 1 1m gwt.no lorl,vo h.E.H'C Q II ~:)o do IYCO::cl1.or 10ft d(~;:t'o too, yrl F:(~)(-) ...A:ftox do hO'yf1 FJhot at ono 8,)"1.0 t11o:(' , ~y"a knowo woren 1 -Ii t:C;~T t () nhuot ono othor HhoI'(-j I J.'lO'll [Sf) JiTl kn,o\'/ .. w:l..ntocl to SCHT'O drl:!; p.l'e;\.,eh0.l~ 8NIQfY front (lore cn,UrJe .ho etll (10 ohich:cnn ~ Do;y But dey Otl,tCXl up 452 Biogr8.l)hy (Do ya'll u.sually sorve tho preacher ohicken when he comes over for ~;und8.Y dinnclr?) In answer to this cl'uestion Uncle Ben reiteratod tho smart rooster story fOLUJ.d on page 4 of t.his paller. 475 ,stor;)': nm PHEACHEH VlI1~HOUT r,EAHNING We h8.d some boys in de C01'ntry and ene of UIll was gwirw down. We lived in Ogelthorpe. Dey was gwine down to W:illws county. One was gwine to be a preacher and do othc')r one was gwine to be 8. deacon yo. know. And dat nic;ht onG of dem prny. And Ole lady carried him home and give him his suppor ya Jmow, arId 8. place to stay dat nigh:t. Next da;y de otlwr on was ,swine prefJ.ch. He tole him dat he didn't have no learning. De one of dat w().s gwi.no to pro().ch didn't havo no "S"U bthind \-,ih\ r)j'lD learnine;. But de youne;er one. was gwine 1\ tell him what to say yo, Jmow. He tole him, II say> rno yonI' f:Lnger:' He Imd his finger over de lotter what de other boy wanted to show hinl. ;ya know. !Ie say rno your fine;er. He say'~ya 'II folks ovor yonder . f II .J A~ ln dE':t corner mo your f:lnger. He sald den, you done play h.ell now:) 110 snid:'y8.' 11 folks in clat corner d,one play hell! II Dem oJ J " 2 boys got right smart of monoy gWino offI'dU'fercmt counties ;y'a lUl0W? having rn.eetins and s:Lr.1.2;:in and. prayon cD,11 deysolves preachon and sinc;:in ;/19, know. GwinG down te pc')oples house and ah i_f you a good mcmlJer of de chvreh dey 'tako eare of ya~ya know and of UIIl was effer:Ln fellow te pray. His JiD.me IVns HenryBolton. And he prD.yc~d tlw.'t night and do folks fed. him good ds.i; dny. Gi.ve him a Ii. ttle rHoney to care home yD. know. JI'olJm useel to s'tanel all stuff like da:t ;ya see. It was dry up i.n do oountry whore eley WH.a. WH.sn' t Jlobody makin nothen ::mel down in Wiceonsin dey had a [jood crop dewn doro yn lmow. And thoy wont down in dere, mEl.do urn s omo iHonoy. Gwine ronnel to ehurchos elown dere yn see. 513 Story: rnJ>;iCrrgn AND '.l'IJE GUNS Well one placo dey wont to dey dicln' t El,llew no pre[).ehers dere. And do boss [ilan on de pltwO eli dn' t allow no preacher 1\ on flo :,lnoo, AwJ all do prOD ehoI' l'I'o[to))od. onG n:i.{)d; and doy tol0 olo bOf'iEl mnn do,\,' wrmtoeJ h:i.rn to com() down do noxt niL;}rL t)"nd hOUT do 1J1'OU,Cl'lOI' }y,eoac}l ~ He 0 or11o, oomo down clerc (3,n<1 ho snid ho' d 'boon runi10n all do l'l'oue))oI's [tvw,y :from dOl~O. Do proD,o.!1oJ:' :lTut h:i.fi B:iblo out on (Jo crLo,)llJ o..nd had. two pinto}f: in it and laid n pil3toJ on o!l.oh fJ:idc (]e B:i.blc. And, ono lady :,mie], "Vie glad to havo you :I.n di.fJ ohuroh, bu:l; do devi.l done COOle :now ~ II J)o,-t; I fJ WhD.,t; o.no of de 01.0 n:LntoI'r:.l f--5ay yn know. Dot proachoI" s nnme C. C. Chontham an,d ho' [J a Wiothodist p:rouoher am] ho Inndo up n hat full of !<1Oi10y cJu.-l; nic;ht when he prot3,c}1. 0 520 J3ioe;:rnpby (Un.c:to Den 18 th~J:IJ a t:cu.c ntoryT) WiD,In? Yor:!., UD.tfu a truo story' ~ :(-)[3.. , b,o oarriod hifJ :p:l.stolf:=J Ol)t 0 Gai.d did oJ] ow nobody pl'oo,ch dore. TIe WU,fJ gwi.no to prone.!:], doro. And de ole lndy DDS "I believe dat :Niggcl' j,E1 gw~Ln() to IJX'8D,C}10" f:kd,(], he got a pifjtol on oneh nido of hif-1 J3ible e And srx~/ de elovil' s '\Joon :in dis church, a long t:irllo, hut do o,()v:il do dc~vil . Un;y oc dovil' c! bocm in di.s c.l:m:ceh for' 8, long t:i me but do dcvil d.oJ1e como nov/. (Unolo Bon, d:Ul 'th:i G hUIJpOn :i.n your time or d:i.O. iJorilobocly toLL yon about :i.t?) DEl:l; VlElD in my tilJlO, urn. hum. 542 ~)tm'Y: WIlO'~'; GOING TO JlEAVT':N :Flut 0.110 ole lu,e]y bad n hunlm.nc1. Jkr husl)F',nO VlaD Ylf-tnw \l7:Lche DJ1cl sho narne ]~vo1'Lno and dc:;;y alvvD,YB Gorn.e aftor dey doad yn nco. And do;y hUNG to f:ine out what did doy sny 'foro doy di.ec], And Ji:vo1ino su.id, tol0 do lJ:1~c:J,chcI' dat Wich.o said 'foro ho d:i.ed dat 1'1.0 wus gwine to hobon. And a,h, 1'1.0 got to Dro!1.ohin h.i[J fUl10rnl [),nd d:xt next dEW h(-) md.d, he sa:i.(l ah, "EveJ'y tirnc dohon cuolrle it n:i.n' i; hdcl." Dat I s wh8:l; do ole prcH:l,ch,ox' i3DJ.d ~ He said., "}:vory t :i, file (Jo :coofjt(~)r c~:cow i tj n.i,n I 'Ii dny." SEW, ":But lW do t:imo nw rnm go to do "J,)()reh ," No, no, ho SUY 1 sifrl:;ox" Ji;vclino Hay', "Whon brother Vlieho diod. 11.0 sa,y ho was gwinn to hebon ~ II ~')D.Y', II B1Xt I gGlI 1,1p in hobon LlnCl hrotllo:r W:i.d)() :I.:in't doro, i),nd my wi,c)tor I~volino tolo u li.o." Dnt's what do 010 llroD,ohor tole J4~, said in do f.JtEJ,nd yEt lrn.OW. Said rllud.o lil{() flO Ba:Ld when b.o died 110 W~-.lS [;winH to hohen. ~ But if ya got UJ) i.n huben. ;.l,d(1 brothor Wicho r::l,in 't dc:co, lto 1 s {~w:i.no -to say sister :E~voli:ne tolu 8, lio, Causo c:)vor 'time do I'oostor O:COW 1t [J,:lYJ.' t day. Evo:e;y t i mo tho b,on onoI(],lo, it nin 't, nho ain I t lo'i d. :But h,o weB c;win,o to tio do ram oolt to do :poroh o',nd nuth'i n but do shadow 0 orno 567 Biography Follm usod to toll us D, tale about do fol1m whon ya know. ya know. lm,ow. But :3holoO I nough mado liko doy say doy gwino to But sOllletimos doy clh) and di.dn I t say nothin doy wr?,nt to put um in heben anyhow. doy dio he])on ya 570 Story: HIS ~;ON TOOK JUS H,ACl': IN m~AVi~N Dero wn,s a fellow had 8. wf?ll off son. He died and de preacher prcached him to heben ya lmow and whon de 010 man died <I and ho Elaid/ you da had a homo in hebon, 'but ah your son,> ho . 1 . 1. /; I I> say, you gJ,VO your son your p aoo J,n ,nobon. Lo sa; and you ain I t got no Illrwe in he])on now. II Ho say,! "y'ou tole a lie. You made lilco your son was gwino to hob(')n. J) Ya know. Ho II I sn,i~he tole him he give his son his place in heben. / He didn't have no place up dere. r;06 Story: l'EGGY AND ABRAHAM 'I \"(' A ,)'1 1,\ '1\'\')'('I"I~I " ;) fl e, "'0', lfi ,T v ,.oy '-'WI Dat story 'bout PElc;gy 8,nd Abraham. y\ 4,0 years and s.he b.ad a boy narned ~rOEl, i-\nd ah Sara and Abraham dey had a boy namo Isaac" i3ut he vms born way after J'oe was born. And ah A'braham and ~Jarah was woalthy peoples. And ah [lara she 'tolo A]lrs.ham she didn''t wantJat poor boy out dox'e playen wtd hoX' boy and dat I n when dati word OOlite b(3,ok, lets [;0 bae]{. to God. God promiso Abraham anything he 8.skEld hi-m feX' i-n. faJ.'th, he grant it to him in graoe. And dey tolEl God him and Sa,ra wanted a ]lOY chile and dere wo,s born a buy chile aftElr he waE) 92 yoa:n~ol,(). And don he got big enough to ,ola;y' ou't dore wid JOEl, But Sara didn't want Isaao to play wid Joe 'cause ,JOEl was 8. poor boy ya se(-). God 'tolo Abraham to f:L11 l1iB mwk wi til bread, bis ;jug wi-d water} and carEl Peggy to de dry Banel. and 15, put her out. An(l drove on t:i 1\ he eome to BOmC) dry sand. and X10rut Poggy und ,Toe out. And dey mado a toxt out of dat don fer to prcmch. And. ,Joe sa;v,"ma I want some water. lVIa, I W[J.nt some wntor. " He say looked up and seod somotxn, ng oorno down through de air lilw a buzzard. Shovel COllle down clore right where Joe WOB and commenced diggin in (le ground. And flew down (lore I:Uw a bird. And after a whi.le he dug till water come. I, SHy NlHma here's .rlenty wHGer." And after while he come just a cryin fer rJreHd. "Ma, I want some bread.') After a whi Ie do bread come a-rainin down. He tole de Ma he had plonty brood don, ya Boe. See everything's pOBsible wid God. Anything unpossible wid us. But eVGrything's possible wid God. because he knovm everything blCfore it ha}JlJen, ya .know. Ho know who,t is on our ndnd. And ]mow what's in our hearts Iffore wo spElaJ, it. He 1mows, ya 1mow , CHuse he's a 'fore knowing God. He, he knows everything dat's gwino to hu.ppen today j}efore it happen. 638 Story: ZACHARIAS AND TIm SYCAMORE: TRIm lIe said ah, ole Nioodemous, he's so wise he's de ruler up over do ,Jows ya know. And 8.h, he ah, 8.nel Christ he was gwine 'round 'Gellen people 'l)out things and Nicodemous wo.nted to know mueh as Christ ya SN). He tole um ho Jmowd:1 much as Christ. He tole his folks he lmoVied 8,S Irluch as Chris'G. And Vlhile deso foJJw wantod to krlOVi he slilJped 'GO Christ one night and wnnted. to learn something from Christ ya J{now. Christ knoVlNl everything btiore it happened., ya see. He said, can a man 1J(~ born 8,fter he's ole, he Hs1eod Chris'G. He said verily, verily, I say unto ;yml if you enter the kingdom o:f God you must riO born o.ga:i.n. 'rIh:i.ch are spirit is spirit and wh.ieh nre flesh Cl.('(, :[']osh. If you're in de kingdom of God you must bc-) born again. Dat' s born by do .clpirits ya see. If ya, on'Ger de Jd,ngdam of God you got to be born by de spirits, ya see. Dat' s Wh8:G Christ tole hirrt and da:G' s all dey loarnen ya soo. Clu'ifJt wouldn"G t(')11 him 8,11 his mi.ght cause ho knowed. Dut he loarn dRG much yo. soe, When Christ was walking up do J'o:l:'i co road. Dat Zaoharias Wol,S a tax oolleotor. And he' dboon fo01in folks out dey money, And ah when Zacharias ViaS H little low man dan Christ was, But he wanted to soe Chrint, bv.t he didn't want Christ to see }jjm, And he w',lrt on top of do Syeamore -tree and 'foro Christ got to de Sy'oamoro tree when he was ooming up de Jerioo Road, He said Zacharias, ZHcharias say oomo down quiekly. He oome down to quiok out do dEl,t tree until he skin' t de r)'J.rk off it, de Byoamore tree. Christ, I mean Zaehct):,:i.as up d.e GycomOl:-'O troe r:et ChO,Y100 -to BeG Uhrint ya see when he come by. And ah, ho tole Zaeharias, say yeu, day to>1_\ JiW you.' s a thi,ef. You, been Btealin the folk's money. Ho to):'6 him, ho Bay, if I stol0 doy monoy, say I givo i.t back to WI'. . He say don.' t c:;ivo it '!xJ.Ok to urn what you done ,J'tolo bu't jeJBt don't 8tml,1 no mo. Dat' B what Christ tole Zaohari.as. Don(t need to give haok nonG ho had stole hut don't stea) no tn.O. 715 Biography Sc;o Wb.Cl"O df\t woman lc-)ft her lj.ttle chtle on do BtOPS :JJld walkoc] out and. loft him. Iii ttle ohilo suokon hi,! fingor. It was ~i n do l'J'eo.d papor dis lHox-',nin & 723 cl'to1'Y: THE IIAN'I' l\)IfD 'L'HE l~n}:1\CHEI1 Do JolJw uso 'to bo soarod D. ho.n'l;s yo. know, (Of what?) HnntB. ~;omcthinc:; come in and y 0'1.1 d:i.cln' t know wl-w,t it, Wcl[) a'l; night, yo. Iwow, I\nd o.h ono ni,,c,;ht do folJ(S .hnd a J:w,u[Jo dat nobody oou.ldn'-t Day :in, Something como 1n doro and run orn out yf), lenov/ ElJJ,d do ,010 111.fHl 1 JJI'cD.cllEJr, com,e do:co f~B,;Y he could str),y . .1\.ft(')1' he dono dono all do preu,ohon como baok [l()ttin at do tu.'lJlo oounton up do monoy, ()ountcn up hiu rnonoy. 1\ b1g cat jUillIl8d up on de tar)lo. Pore somo of do monoy out, 1I0 sny din Ini.no. :Do eE-l,,!; SD,y, sr\y de:eo D,:in' t .nobo(Jy horG hut mo an you.. Dat' s whu:t do O():t to10 do proschor . Ho SB,y d:i,J:'octly doro won I t bo nobody horo bU.t you. 'Pho In'oaohor lit out yo, InlOw. RuxJr)e!1, overy timo ho [.,'toppod dat oat was right boh:i..nd h1m, 110 jv.nrpod do fenco tJ,.I.Hl b.o ld.u ovorall.s t'~()t; calJ.gb.t in do :fonce. Ho say sturn lilO 10()[J(j' O[}:t mws now you. ean }w.vo do monoy', Ho toJ.O de :lClnOe turn hi.Jn looso. Ho thou!~ht do eat had him and 0.0 wiro fentOo had [lim. 757 :Jtor.Y: TID': com'!' S Howm TJut I knowec1 a p1aeo down :i.n, a 'p1ueo doy oall Flatwood down in Ogolthor~[lo. A ooon kopt folks, livod in i.n 8, h01An: :fer 9 oX' 10 Y(~EJ,r8 Q Do:ecJ V1Hfj a upsta:Lcs to do }-l()Uf~H) fJTI.(l something wou.ld come '.i.n ooro draggin a chnin and h.o' uiJo c!itton downntairs dere and on upsts.h's, Ole coon IiV\;o up doco in. sunny ])oxt of de house, 'ya 1m.ow in do coiLLn of de hOUDO, Had. dono huild, had lrLm a home up doro ya soo. Corta:Ln timo I:. ni!']'I; ho' c1 como in you know and go up yonder and go to '\Jed, A.nd do lllHn Sf-ty he give DXlyl) odS" 8,11 doy can ma}f:8 I round cl:d; house 1;0 live in and de "em say he I cl li.vo i.n it. lm.d ho Em;y in do nnrno of I,01~d WIW,t. iu do.1;? Eo followocl clo.t coon cIon and s(-)Q' d do coon go to beH1. And ah, he') Im.owed dat waD a coon den ya se(-). And ah, he, he liv(-)d in 00 houeB. Caught dnt eoon, Id11ed him, and don he lived :Ln llo hour~(-;. D8,t coon been 1ivin dero all (10 time eaUBe [dn' t no'body eoultln' t live) der'o 08,USO ho had him 8, honoo in dG coiling ~ya lUlOW. Ho built hi.m a nlH.GO whore he leeop warm i.n do ooiling :in tho wi.ntor OW), Dc (loon I e a sharp thine; ya know. H(-) run ;ya, if ya go to huntin ho run de W8.y him (le first part of de ni.ght ya can 't e)D.tch him eause 'your dog to doatll, Ya soo he go UI) a tre~)a pieeo of and wh8.n de dog comes t round to do -tree in cJat treE) \ . ' hB done jumIJ()d out dnt troo W8,y out from dat trco and gone to another troe ya sec. Run YOUI' dog all night and you couldn' '1, eateh hi.m. And. now yg seo jf ,va go to hnnti.n him jur~t alJOut 'for(-) dny ho elir"1), g:i t up a tree and Elta;y dore y-a soo. TIut ya can't oEltch him fire1t part of do ni.gh:t, night 'cause he'll go up elo treo a pieco of d(-) wa;y :;,nd ,jurnp 'bout }O or 15 foot out from do:t tx'oo, out awr3;y from dat 'kcoo. And dog bo jlJwl; lmrkon up (lat troe and dc ooon be gone. Dom sncu,ky Iittle eroD:I,ures. VIC) used to [';0 coon hunt and. eatch dem coune. Dat I s de bost llJeat you evor 08:~aat wall" on 4 logo i.fJ cJ.e ooon, My Illothm:' UBO to gi.vo coon dinnere. 'Nhite folks use to come out of town and come down to my m.other's house, to ("at dat, flOme of dat coon. Everyono gi t up from the table hmvo O-"piece 0 money dere when dey eat dat eoon. She could cook um. Wly mother's name Ann a but dey call her J 00. Do 010 man what namo her Joe. She had a aunt nalile Jacl" and she, my mother, he name urn Jaok and JOEl 'cause dey cou.ld do much worl{ as da man. I S88' d my mother IJlow a mule jest liko a man. My dadd~r git tired, sh(~ take de l"lew and plow fer him. 843 Story': OIJD JvTM3TEH C/\'j'ClH:S I,AZY 1'I0IlK8R Ole marstor had follow ho wouldn't Vlork. Ho make 1:i.ko he sick all de time. And at night ho'd go off and frolic and pick de banjo wid dc folks he'd frolic fer. And say one night he was all frolicken and ole marster, somo of urn tole ole marster to go down to Sarah's houso. Say dat h.e was down d(clre playen de fiddle, playen de banjo. And he, when his marster got dero he sitten out picken. (f1nng) "Fooled ole marster seben yoars ewino 'to fool him se1Jen more. II Toll Hm when he's IJioken fooled ole marster sl'lben ;y'oars maken like ho too siok, siok to work ya see. lIe pioken de banjo at his tune, "fooled d ole m!),rster seben y'ou,rs gwino to fool him sebon more. De 010 marstor cfmght him pioken 8:b dat Im.njo. Tole olo marstor if ho dian' t whoop him ho' d hoo de leaves raw and out de wor,cJt out. Anel Guid when he wcmt to de field .ho hoed de leB,vos raw like he say. Hadn't work none in sebon years. May I, 1970, 3 :iJ.O PM [,ooond Interview - side 2: Story: 'rIJVlE TO GO Kept prayen for Gec\ 'to oeme get him. ro(xy' de white foJ.Jes Ge mean to him.. Dat I s when those days come, some I' I I DD,Y~ who is dis? f)aysJ was 000 fellow como down knocking on de door. I I ~ ~ I' dl.s is God. And his wLf e SEd(~ ya boon 0,8k1n fer Gxod liO eome git ya. Say he 8. t de du or now. /) Say tell Gad I o,i.n 1 there. Wonted hor to toll God he ain't horo. He stayod a whilo ond den he hear him. Says, " :Lf ,Tohn ai.n' G here I'L]. 'l"- alee you. ))(<,-,,,1,0,) Says)"yos John is horo! i, And John he out dere 8.nd run jump fast as he was aftor him. Got de fence. Got to de pl:we he ran to gi..t oval' de fonce [J,nd he got h"lulg at; do :fe,nee. Says./ I' . 1,1 \ltl:IX'n me loose God /' I a:i ,n t t ready to go shore 'nough o Gcl,Ys / "turn me loose .., He mEl,do like he ready to go den. Made like he read.y to go. Say de white folks was too mean to him. Ii/anted to leave dem. Wml'bod to oome e;it him. Bu'b dat night he say he waSl1 1 t r-eady to go whon Got como at ld.m yo. sec. 13 Iliography (He then asked if we went to the baIl C)J.rne Hnd reported the seore). (Father) He was ,tust 10 yoars ole. Yea lilY' d8.dely was 10 years OlE' when dey eleclaired dCJ:t de colored waG free. He W8.S 10 yCDTS ole.. He 1m.owcd when dey bU'I_lt all dem 1)reast works. Doro was all breast works den. Dey built EJ,ll dem b:r.eaGt works in l1oro. Now see dat liLtl0 ch8.ir. It look like j.L too little for chi10 ev()r sit down in.. )II ow Grace, de 11.tt Ie <laUGh tor of Bessie 11eo TIogo:J:'c, c1fl:~ VJrMJ hore chair \Ivhon sho Wi:3.8 8, l:i.. ttle baby.. (Who made :i-t'?) Yea, foho md in c1ut little ohair- wb.en sho wrlS a bn'by El.J.ld nov,", D110 I bOl;di 29 years ole" f),he works fox-' Wirs" Kint~:. Uhe SE)(~r()tal"Y f(~I' Mrs. ICing" Anc], she' play (10 IJinn.o down hore on 13ouldevn.:r:d a-t de ehurch. She play oJ'['.an awl piano too. ;> () I vms glad to BOe you 0.11 folles. I bolicvo ya'll is C;ooc1 people ... (Vihat'?) ALI. of dom SHy dey wouldn't go to do ccmo'l;or;y. And boys and 2 ])OyB go'l; um a shoot and .flut it ovo(' dey hoad. And say doy could go by' da'l; cemetery and noth:ing wcwldn I t bother demo And when dey got even wid de eemeter,'l, dey cotlunencod again a walkin wid de shcet over de;y hOH.d whore doy war~. And dey lit out to runn:in. I .U(:)VOX' WLJS SCEtrod to l~9 by a gT'avcyarc1 n:t 111tJ;ht" I could go by a grFJ,Voyard an;ywhore. I lmow I could walle ail nirht ])y myself. 1lut I had a brother-in-law -, I had to roll fer his bod. II young ])T'othol"-in-lo.w, my wLfe' s y'oungest brother. He wouldn't go by d8.t hod. lIo could fwe ldsBEJlf in dnt roll for hie) bod. 1I0 flaid, "Brother Ben, sny fJ. 1ilfU1 hicUn :in dat bod." Said, "A man hicUn in !Jat bod. I nin' t gw:ine in dcre." Flo soe hisself in dat dore bed DJ1.d fJay dora Wfl,S a rllan hid:Ln i.n his befl, yo. SHe 0 Ya. oouldn"b got him through dat room. YR soo do:t fcmeo showod a picture through do:l; hOD.d of c1at boc1,;ya soe. (lie I fJ tc1,lking about tho same li'l;tl0 ehild who fmt in the chEdr.) I me8,n sho hadn't novor walked and a Mrs. HGecl. lmd vnclc) come in dere had a, !w Wu.s, btl,ld. hondecl, Didn't hnve no h8.ir on his hoad. And Bessio 1,010 saw hi m com.~i n.g in de dooX' . [)he jump up [md wnJ.k nnd walk (J.nd walk on and. nevor did stop walkin 8,fteX'warc1.s. After' 8ho soe dat bnlc1 hoaded mano Woll. I onjoyed yn'll being here and tellen dODO ntori(3S. May 4, 1970 3:]0 PM 'Ph.ir.'d Interviow ~ ~:ir1o 2: 75 Biography (Can you thinl\: of ony G1;OI'iJ)S tOdDY?) 1.1 ttJe ch:Lllun 18 FJOngB. (OK 0 Can. yOtl s:Lng No Inum. I wing l'a D()IO n ()f \-11()D(.9) A'.)'-:I _.,._, .. . I" _ ".) j 78. I",)ong: AlJ-JlfT. '.[.'.AB.D,v.., I), Boen gwi no to toll aunt TrIbby. Gwine to toll 8..unt ~Pab1)y 0 Boon gwino to t(~>ll nunt ~l'ahb;,r <:1(70(; ole g:C(-);y go0 fJ<-:-) in don.c}. DEl ono cla-t f\ho was saven. Do a.ne that she WHO f3[),V(~.n . De 011.0 thD:I; sho vnw CD-von to mnke H feathor l)f)d and do 010 gEl,ndor fO.ourrd,n" 'Do ole grUl<1.e:r. mou:cII.:Ln t CfJUfJC hi[-:1 vvi:fo is dOfJd. DO 11 i ogrHpllj Dn-{;'8 81]11t 'r.ahb;y. Do 1ittl,-) eh:Ll1un uoo fling dD:t, flo little eh:L11uJI wlion I waG nurro:Ln U1JI, Wi [) ong: OVKR THl>: lUV:I'~H Ovor de rivor to food IliY ohooJ>, Over do riven:, 01ar, r'D Over do :c:LVOl' to feod my Bhoop. FDod um on somo lxu:,loy. OhD,:cllo VNJ,S a hanc1f.~uHlO boy:~ ChD,r]50 was a dandy. Cho;rlfc,: ww: da-t plltty littlo boy :Foocl (0)1Il girls 011 oandy, 94 Story: '.mE AT'["@VIJ"l'c;]) 'rlm1"~ll OF GCn,]) nlNe:~; l.n sl u,very time lily 010 {';I'allldlllothoI' flIJ,id. ,1n,t dey bury a {.l;irl.. And uh she had a [~old :cingH on 11cr fi..nc;or and. F1, follow doeidocl lJO {':o dor.'o dat ni{';ht r)nd. fUr; hoY.' up. 'l.'uJ<e d.om ;,,;01cl .rin{';s off hoI' fin{';oI'. V/hon ho (lug clown to hoI' ho oonunoncod tnko.n oJ'f do {';old t'l_n(~n. Sh.o nrl.Y 0.011 1 'I; trtko dorn rings of:f my- fingc.l:'! And, dell h.e ,-jUlilI) out r:1J.l<l l'tH1 btJ..ek to do .hOIJf10. tl:().lo b,ts l'llnX'fJ"l;OT', .lli.a cn:i.strCfJfJ, I W()1.1t down to do gY'(J.vcyD,rd nn.<1 .h.cl:l,J:' de lid::r~rcnB Gay don t"L trtke c10l'!l gold r:Ln{~f1 of:f m;y :f~i .ngo:r.. Sa;y f:~ltc n5,n I t tlo(J,cl. And Wl'lC,(l dlJg' flo.r u.:r nho :U.vn H good while l"rlijOr. And hirci [drn to take clom cold rings o:l'fh.er f:i ngor bnt she spoke and .he wont and tole 010 marfJtor says do mistress telo rno to don I t take dem ringfJ off her finger, And ho wont and dug hor up den, And she lived a while longer, ~;a;y and cJoy give (10;[; feller wh.olo lot a geod tlLi ngs for gwino doro try to gi t flom ri ne;s off her finger and nhe got up ~ 110 Biogx'D.phy I, me and a follor word; to buy a oaskot, lllG and a white foller wont to buy a oasket, And ahhe got aheB.d of me and some way or anoth(-)r Bud Got in do casket, got in a <askot. And I oome by do oasket, HG said whore y'ou gwine? 1,1]\:0 to soare m0) to dcath. I had trembled allover yo, see, .I\nd dcn Mr. Ramond BurroI' ho I s dovili.sh anyhow, And ho got in dcro to scare mo ya know. A.nd ho did scare me, I thought doy somcbody in do casket talkin shoro 'nough, And it was him, I waB comin acrODS [), pasturo once and. it wasn 1"[; so far from home. Son10thi nc; grabbed around me, asked me whore I was gwi.ne, And. I wont to runnin, I was out to de steps, I wrw so t:ired I couldn't ,'l'o up de Btepn, I fell in de door, And when I hollered feY' de I,ord den de thing turnnd mc looso, I say, Oh I,oY'd! And de th:ing turlHlc1 1110 loose right at, in my' door, And it caught all 'round me. It 100Lo like it fJOf't something soft l:ike a rubber. And I eould. gO"[; loosc from it till I got homo hollered, Oh 1"ord! And it turn me loose. Whel1 I was (C..ooaton boy' ~md I gwine to 8, girl's houso one night 8,TlCl I como to a wood," and h("cu~ing do chieken got all I round my feet. I covdn'1; se"E) none of UIl1., hut I could hear um, and I jC-lSt lit O1r[; to runnen till I got out do woods. Dey follow me till I got out do wood.s Den doy let me alone, I3ut dey gwine on j cmt like doy t:l:'yen to get to dey mother ya lm.ow, all aremnd my foet. (Did you boys ever toll scary fr[;oriefi late atnighL?) Yea V'/o tell storios, Tell I bout what, what one s(~et1 and what de other se(3'd and all 111m dat. (Can you rotllomber one of them?) In [fly 010 1)08S man' D hOUDe whe:c(-) I WeW born on his })laoe, rai80d on his plnce, sometimes it come a light. I'\; l~hine all ever his house. (Aen go on down to de SWHln]). And ah a baliff down one night and some more boys, white boys, say dey was gwine to follow da;\; light dat night. And all of dem follow dat light and dey :Left dat Sheriff by hisself. He like to run hisfje1f '\;o death. He fmmd out weren't nobody f'o110wing da:\; light but him. And lit o'u.t hiss()lf to cd:\; bacl< to de houso den. But you wouldn't s()e nobody wid dat light.- Dat ligh'\; bo gwine lU<e dis. (moves hands from side to si(lO). It Dome all r01;rnd de house and den leave and go on down to de creek down dore, go daVin to do.t ereek. 153 Story: FRGEZE TONIGHT AND NLAHHY TON,ORROW Der('! was a girl tole a boy if he ma.rry her she go up on de roof and stay all night. And say, evory onco i.n a while sho sa~, "freoze tonight and marry tomorrow it. And she up 0 vor de house and frozo. Dirln' t marry de noxt day. She frozo but sho I <} holler, "froeze tonight and marry tomorrow, frooze tonight and marry tomorrow". She didn't never gi:!; to me.rr;)' l'li_m. And sho fro%',e. Sh(~ was anx:i.ous to marry him and Dhe Vias gwine 1;0 fltay up on do houso and froze do ntc;ht and gi'l, a chance to marry him. 163 Story: ~1ImEE JnC:GEn li'OOW r;ly father -[;01e a t8.10 'bout a follow say da'\; ah ho stay all night and do man and do :).ady, do gont1eman had ono daughtor. And dey t010 cloy- had had do boor in. a kog out to sfl1tilko h01JSO. /l,nd doy vms gwine to stay and oat hree.kfast wid um. '['ole do daughtor' to go out to clerc and draw sOllle boor' for do hreakfast. Daughter wont ou1; Clero and took de stoppoX' out and do 1100r runnen on do ground and sho' fl 100ldn u}) . And her mothor run out and say, "daughtor what' fl fl' ftl8.tter you couldn't back in do houso wid dat boer?" ['Jay, "I WL1S jost sittin horo t.hinkin what a nieo Ooul)le me and de.t lUan would ftlo.lW." And do ole lady sho lot do boor kept a .running. Sho stood out doro. De 010 man went out, asl, hoI'. AmI she )~ L(. Fmy, "Vie jest thinkin 'bout Wlle}.t a /"ooel match my daughter and ,Us youne. gentlotl18.n would tlluke;'/! And sho welL .. lIo SA.y, "I'm gwine on hCe; tole." lIo l(~ft dero de man did.. Say, "I'M gwine on. If I find 3 maI'O bigger fools irJ .'la' 11, 8B.;,r, I'll come bacl, and mEI,rry your dfJ.ughtor." Viall he fltay all d.s,'!J fllght at de lllan I D b.ouse [t.nd. he heard fJome-,t.hJ,.ng kept a rUlfI'bl:Ln do;t morning 'fore day and ah he looked out a.nd de man had his pants t1c;o. up on D, e.hair and trying to jUltliJ :in um. And ever;v time he I d go to jWllp in, ho I d knock de ohnir down and dEl,t IHake do f'Uf:1B y'n soe 0 And well dat WE'tS one of (10 :fools he found ya know, fwd he went on by anothor m.an 's houBe Gee [J(Jrtlebody gwino 'rcmnd de houBe. l;;vorytimo ho git to do door h(-) t1n:>n do whoelbarrow over in do dooI" yo, k.now ~ .And ask wh::.t-G was he doin, He sny J:1O try:Ln to ou;tch 80mD sunshine throw in dere (11'.'1 his wJ:wu:I;" Say ho' s tryin throw flomo Gunehino in no h8.d to dry his whent ya seo. "Well he fJ8.y dnt I fJ dat' G 2 of /' \ \ ) I um, ho Gny, I found And do other ono was like you tole 'bout do 1i1OSf) D.nd FlO ho wont OIl to D.nothcJY.' l)ln,eo" Dc man. GCdfti.11 u:p on do honno" )vrOFtf~ '.;VD,S on do honse DJ.Hl b.n w[l,lkin I round de cow In tlOD,c1 t:C;yjj1 to Lrul~l him np on. de h.OUF10 to (j:d) <10 rnOD8 up ofr c r.tOllf10 c AnrJ ho hrl.c1 to {~O bo,ck. and nH:l,rry (1.0 man In dtHJ.ghto:c dell. yu, Goe. Ho found him 3 fools .ya Boe. But dat ono WeW a bad o.no VlD.fJ t:c;y in to jurnl) in .r1.i_8 pn.nts ya krlow. ~)oo eVCJry tinlO l1.o'd ;jl)tfJ}) up, u.p on on hie llLtrlte he'd hit do c.hair, knook it over, illld.l1ud to J:w.ng um bew1\: up agatn yu know. 205 ;,'I;ory: '.Pln: ,lEVI AND IPHI'; I,OG Dero wne 8. Jew onoe '1;010 urn dat you out dG log off you could holo :U on do htl1, ./In.d he out de log;. Ho tio hiesDI[ '1;0 (To log. Ilo out do log off. Do log gwino on down do hill wid .him.. Evory time do log turn over I'lO Bay, "I I III WD,]Jd n on top DB you :ifl'?" And do log ldllod him.. But ho BD,y, he tolled., l:J() tulJci.n to do log. But, evory' timo do log OOtllO on over it bo on ldrn, yD. know nnd nex.t t:Lmo he, he bD on de loe; .'In 8oe. lIe sEd.. d, he Bald, "You nf)od E1, J:'OJ)O," lIe sHid, "I 'm wGlldn OrJ top .'::J,fJ you is, I I rn waJJ.ci.n on tOl) D's you. t8,," 219 Ili ogrflllh;y I had fJ. lJ:J:'otlwr dat out h:Ln j oint in 'two Hnd put y.wl:f in hif.! mouth. And if ~rou took Id.s tObD,CCO ctwny wid his breaJrfast;, he wouldn 't (-;at no breal!::fas't. And he wou.ldn I 't tnlw it out a hin mouth till 12 0 I olook. ~\al(O it out and ()H;t h.is dinner. After (I:i.nner he'd put de other part in his 1il00.1th nnd den he wouldn t 't take i'f; out unt:Ll hel eat his supper. Dat' s do waY' he chew tobaceo. I never use no kind. a woor} lUIt:i.l I was 'bout 35 Y'0arn 010. MY' wife f),nil I VJEl8 piokin ootton nnd I ohewed down on a npid.or dat n:i.ght and. it made me s:loll:. Every tj'l1e I I d drink: water I I d hmJ,ve. And Dhe, she smolws anY' ]6rH1 of t01moco :in a 1itt10 jar pipo, She flay, "B(-HI tfJ,]ce a eh.ew of toboacco. It might settlo ;your storno,o]l." I too], n. chew of 'to]Xl,()OO den 'bout and I got drunl{ off a dEL t to'bac 00, don laid on de dirt, And. doy had to leave me in de field, in de :field 'till I bout 9 0' olook I fore I could go de houso. Tobs.cco 1118.de 010 drunlt. 237 ~ltorY': THE ,TACK '1']]A.~1 WAS JViIS'PAKEN ["on '!'HE LOl.nJ I can tell you one. A :fellow name Jac]" hCJ want to be a preacher. And he WSB j)lowing clown in do low part of de field and had ole ,TDCk \)1' behind d.e haystack. He'd holler, "Oh John, oh ,Tohn, go Dr-each, go preach,". Ho (lui't plowin. Vl8nt to de .h.OU8(-) to call de I,ord.~ S~).y Go,} c8..110(1 him to go preaoh. JVia:rster say, "well, Jaclc say, Y'ou can go to preach '~omorX'ow!' He wont ou'~ and brought i.n right smart a lit't1e Btuff preaohen dD;r. next daY'. And he Do.i,d, "I beliove I {';O down and :finj,Bh p10win illY' orop." He wont down and went '~o vlowin again. ]]e said olo ,T3,ok won'~ to holler:i.n about 10 o'olock shore I nough again. lind ho Day, "Oh John, oh ,Tohn, go proB,oh, go p1'03;oh .r, Say, ho (pdt again tolo de mar[,j'toX' Day, ',' Goe,' wO.n' 'f; 10,1", m"e v,'OJ.."],,; c<'Jay' go "t0 [)X'E-)a,.o"!l.IIe WO.1l'"'; on dore and lJorrow de m8.rs'teJJ:' ri""_h. t S'II]c''-lr'"0 ,'.'.,' ~1""'1O.-1'.1.e I""().l.l,eY' an.d f)'I;nCJr :J,'1';- Ymck (T.at day. And dc) m)xt day he done plow up close I nough to see ole Jack when he wen:1; to holler. And he say he wont to plowin again and ole 'ID..ck hollered to como 'round frolo. bohi.nd do hay stack. When he hollered ho said, "como ou-I; from behind de haystack you damn rascal". Said, " you been :Coolin mo malcLn me think you was God." And do ole Jael, fooled him 2 days ya know. Do last day l1e couldn I t fool him. But elcy holler liko do:1; and dey hollor. You can hoar um 3 miles. J3ut look liko do;y say oh John shoro 'nough. He though dat Ja,ck was God tellin him to go preach. "Oh JOhn, oh John, go preach, go preach." Dat's de way he t8.11,. AmI he thought dnt Jack W8.S tellin him to go ])refwh, 2[)0 Biogr8.phy ])0 boy, ,Tack he's de bo;\,. ,Tenny's de girl y8. sec. ('IIhat Jdnd of animal is the jac1,?) Eo has long (cmrs, a small animo,],. has long ears,. (Is that a 1"111.:1,18 or a mouse or a ... ) Dat's whero a mulo como from. Yoa (10 Jack's do daddy of a rnulo . (donkey). De ,Tc)w will tell ya say, "lain' t t3.lCO .nothJ.n; 1 ' 11 choat ya r:LC;ht." fIe tells ya den all lIe time he cheat yo,. I.Ie say, .. I,.0-,1v00,-\-; y3 \.- " ",.)IA '1-, " A ' " Say dc~y killed a whole lot a ,Tews do time of dat n.rs'\; World War, England yo, lmew. Mrs. Harris, I wo:rJmd for a Jew out on Powors Forry Roaa.. Shc) 83.y dey lef-l; her dey bring her to come into ae United Statos on a b,icyele. Dey .1dll so many J ElWS. D8.t, 0.8.'1; ole man he stay in ele law s1lit a 10ng time 'b,ou'l; lei.llen dem JeVis. Say dey'd dig tre.n.ohes, great 1Jie; tronchef] big I nough '1;0 .flut a hOlwe in and git a whole lo'l; B, ,Tews together and pu'\; ern in dB;\; trenoh and. put a bull dozor, roll dir'\; on em, bury ern. 3,live. Say got to leEl,vo Engl:,.nd on de bi cye.le, Mrs. Harris say' leavo l~nglanel. on de 1Ji.oyclc comc-) -1;0 do Un.i.ted S'l;a;\;es. Say, when I was 10 ;yoar's 010 dey hired me 'l;o 3. white lad,\, name Wi,i.ss M'Ll,tHO. And It d uso to sto.,y in de Sf.1,ln.e room. shu stay in. ]<;vorynight. Ariel I, 1mt I slopt on do pallot. And oho ,J '7, te1]/11e if I hoar anything elso 'oept de chickon to wall:e her up. lViin1m and. fox thingn catch folk's chickens 3"n de country yo, $oe. And I hete,- something at do ohiekens. I I d wake her up. She'd give me de gun to go ou'l; dere shoot and run urn away ya 1mow. Bu-I; she is de best ])erson over I work fer. [)he (hdn I-I; havo no ldnd of food tIm'!; sho c1idn' 'I; cUvide wid me when she got r08.(ly to eat. [30mo of em won 1'1; iJivido de good food wid yo" yo, know. But M.iss M.ame give mo some a anything she cook. 325 Song: nm [:I1E:E:m AND TIt\<: fJIIOM:S SE1N' , de eheeps and (Ie f!hoatrJ all gone to de .[J8.sturo. Do shsep tolo de shoat lot's git a little fastor. Do sheeps and ds shoats 0.11 gone to de pasture. Do sheep 'I;ole de shoat let's git B little faster. (A shoat is 8. pig.) END OF m~corm[m IViATEI?1fIL '['alo typo and motif analysis for folJd;u,los or ntorion: All rofOrOnCNJ '~o Dor'son' s book refor to .American Nogro Fol]do,]os 'by' Hichard JVf. DeJl1son, 1968 Fawcett Wor1;cl Idbrapy, New YOJi'h, AU ]~eforoncos lOsttt~~m~:~;:,~~~~ rofor to J\Ilotjf~1ndcx . I!'oJ!lc-liitoruture #\j~958 1nd1o]:18, Univors;Lt~l Pross., Indiuno,," All referencos to. '['he G;o1dol'1 ~ rofe!': '(;0 u rese..arch l.lupOr 11Y tlm1; ti'b1o lW John A, Bur'):'} son, Goo:lJgin Stnto qolle{;;o, 196B. '!'a:1J Baby story p. 2 -, DorGon' fl book 110'('5 nt(H'y' number. 3. ~.'ho ~['urtl0 ana. the Rab]lit p,3 - Docuon'rJ book p,87 story numbor'IO. 'rho Smart Roostor p. 4 - ,DOl1fJOl1 I S bo ole 11,11'J s'~ory nlJ.lll])Or 30. The Buzzard and the JVlonkoy p, 6 - DOI'U()11' o book p, 116 IJtory numllor 30. Zacharias and tho Syeo,rn01'o ~rroo p.15 - Dorrson's boole p.261 n'boDy numbor 1.33. '1'he .Hant and tho Proacher p.16 ,- motif-index ,J 1495 and Ii: 436.2. 'rho AttomptGr] '.l'llGft of Gold Hi'n{;;s p. 21 ~ .T.h2. (}oldGn, ADm IJ. 50 var:i.a.nt number 25. FrGezo ~I\might and Marry ~romorrow p, 23 - Dorson "s book p, 33 5 story numbor 202. Throo Blggor Fooln p. 23 - Dornon I fJ boo], p. 33 8 story rmIJlI)Ol1' 204" 13urrj,soD, John A. ~'he Goltl~~. Georgia: GoortgiB, stato 00110go, 1968. DorSOD, HiohnrcJ Wf. Amoriean Negro ]i'o1iJcta1os. Now Yonk: Fawoet'lJ World ldbrary, 1968. 'J'hompsoD, Stj.th. lWotif-IncJox of I"oJJt:-I,itoratlITo. Ina.iana: Inoj.ana Univol'Flity ProsfJ, 1958. nfDEX: The numbers :i.n parenthesis indicate the tape nunibOJJ' on, wh:i.ch: the following :i.s te bo found. Biography': side ono of tape,- p.l (008), p.4 (102), p.5 (146), p.6 (178), p.7 (205, 219), p.8 (227, 258), p.9 (384), p.10 (347), p.ll (282), p.~2(452), p.13 (520), p.14 (567), p.16 (715). side two of tapo~ p.19 (13), p.2L (75, 80), p.22 (110), p.25 (219), p.26 (280). Poem: side one of tapep. 6 (196) 'rho June Bug Hnd 15 Cents. Songs: side one of tape.... p.] (000) Boll Weavel, p,4 (99) Nests, p.4 (116) Old Ned" p.7 (214) ~rhe Oonfedcrate Song, p.7 (222) Boatman, p.8 (252) Pray On, p.8 (270) Noah, p.10 (43) Big B1HCk Goon fnom 'rennessoe, p.10 (373) Hambone. si.de hvo of tapep. 21 (78) Aunt ~labby, p.21 (85) Ove:o tho River, p.27 (325) Tho Shoep a11.<l tho Shoats. Stold.os: side one of tapep. 2 (43) How tho Rooste:o Foolod the Rabbi.1J, p. 2 (51) TaIl Baby StOIlY, p.3 (80) Tho Turtle and the Rabbi'v, p.4 (131) ~lhe SrJl8.JJ'lt Rooster, p.6 (170) The J3uzzax'd and the lVIo.nke;}1'" p.ll (436) ~'ho Roesten and the Hen, p.ll (4.42) 'rh() Rjjdding of the PreacheD" p.12 (475) 'J'hc PreacheD WHheut IJea:oning, p.12 (513) Preacher and the Guns, p.13 (542) Who"s Going te Heaven, p.14, (57) m.B Son Toe]~ His Place in Heaven, p. 14 (586)' Poggy and Abraham, p .15 (683) Zaelmrias and '[;he Sycamore Tree, p .16 (723) 'rhe Hanij, and the Preaeher, p .1'7 (757) ~'ho 00en I sHomo. second side of tapop. 19 (000) Timo to Go, p.21 (94) ~f'he Attempted 'J~heft of Gold Hings, p,23 (153) Fl:1eoze Tenight and Marry ~I'emorrow, p.23 (163) TllJlee J3i.ggel1' ]i~OO]Js, p.24 (205) The Jew and the r,og, p.25 ('237);: 'rho ,Tade that waf! MiGtoJwn for the I,oI'lL ~'alo type and motif analyBis for folktales or f!toI'ief3: p. 28. Re:foronoo worlm ~ p. 29. " QmLEASE- .' By letting US collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs of earlier days.-you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your co~nunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, whose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this lnateria1 by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this lnater~ ia1 for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand ' hO'] life 11as in the old-timey days. Your material ~lill probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say so-we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have an important part of American life. that you want to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remenmer any more old-timey things that it will always be preserved" 11rite to: Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia state University 33 Gilmer street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 ~igned Address --L.-t"':"- d - For Ga. Fl. Archives: Gao \'Iitness , , ,I? !;;:{IELEASE- .' ny letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs Qf earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your conunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, ~1hose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this lusterial by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this lusterial for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand how life \1aS in the old-timey days. Your material ~lill probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the t~ne you have an important part of American life. that you ~lant to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more old-timey thip.gs that it will always be preserved, \1rite to: Signed Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia state University 33 Gilmer street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address For Ga. Fl. Archives: . _ 1'Iitness Date ~
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. 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 emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.