Richard Glison interview with Minnie Barnes

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. In this interview Minnie Barnes recounts her life in Griffin, Georgia. She starts by discussing a typical workday on the farm where she grew up, which included picking cotton and doing household chores. She and her sister relocated to Macon after their mothers death, where they lived for 15 years before returning to Griffin in 1944. 3:58: Next, Barnes explains that her social life was nonexistent as a young adult because there was nothing to do but work and ride a mule down the highway. At 4:38, Minnie recalls legends about witches and supernatural encounters. Her parents told her threatening stories about witches who would pull childrens eyes out. She also tells a story about her and her parents seeing a ghost. 10:05: Changing topics, Barnes describes remedies her family used to cure illnesses, such as butterfly root and oils. They also chanted biblical phrases, such as Psalm 23, to help massage away pain. 13:59: To close the interview, Barnes recalls riddles and jokes, then sings gospel songs, including Old Time Religion, Kumbaya, My Lord, and I want to go where Jesus is. Minnie Barnes (1906-?) was born in Griffin, Georgia. She worked on her family's farm with her parents, James Willika Michael and Sally Willika Michael. Additional biographical information has been determined. AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet --------------------------------------------------------- File Information Catalogue number Source Field* ContentDM Release form Transcript scanned: Yes or No ; le. 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J Creator _ '(Enter either an individual's name oran organization) Collection Name (within the organization) Creation Date (use only one) Burrison Folklore Class Georgia Folklore Archives Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 diQit year) Year Span Object Type Image_ Text Text and image_ Video and sound -Sound only~ I Media Format Reel-reel (VHS, reel to reel, etc Recording Hours: extent Derivatives Access copy: Yes or No Recording clip Yes or No Time code for Beginning:_~/~f =~1 .,_: _ clip (h:m:s) Notes (interview summary) \-Ai"'>. sh ,~1;) From To Access copy format Recording issues (background noise, echo, i static, etc.) Subject lnfor!f1ation E nC e r .1 n f orma f1 0n. ab OU t th econt en t 0 f th e ob n' ee the re: Subject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (lf only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) !crlc1 c( Year Span From To Subject Who Last Name First Name Ml 13,., f('_ f\ (' t.;,;,, Subject Cour;,try State County Town Local Name Location ''.f::;_;~,.i-.. _,-/\ f:t'}\ ljj';;j]:: .... ... . C'i, -. S~bjeqt What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you. (LOG subject headinas onlv) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See subject who for additional names ,, Corporate names Geographic locations Topics (' ,!':.Jylt-. r t'-.i\ . . s~-/~{~J ...... ;~;~ \..J OOLLECTIITG PROJECT Richu.rd GS.lso:n. 11: l10 Class for Prof. John Burrison -~}:1_ Ll tel,,. (~;} 1.lCt I'1te 1..,' 19651 t~rs. lT:1 .. rrn.ie Barnes, of 858 Welch :Street(Fulton County), l1as 1)2 en 11\ring j_11. .;t~t1s~11 ta, Ge 01-glB~ J~ oT~ tl1e ~pct st t~-,ren tJ"' fi ,re years and j_s a member of Mount Gilllo11 Ba.::_Jtist Church (21.09 l~~-J,T 0 +roc+) Rt1R -i=q bnr~ n11" J_Dq1-~n J~ 8n~0~0ir1~ rnuntv ~Cl.. ,JV '-' V 11.,,1 f tll . ...; _,.. , "'"'"~ ~.... "-' _.,,__ ...- - d~ ,_..., l _l..L .. .d ,_ ..L, V~," .1... -~ , C.:) ..JV -l..!. J .,, Griffin, Georgia on July thirteenth, 1906. As a young girl, Hrs. Ba .. rnes and her family worked long, he,rc1 hours on the farm. :3he lived in a frrnne house l:Lke the one s11e b.s.s draTtn belov-1: bedromn & bedroom I room chi@JGY l I I bedroom I came to JI:now- Krs. Barnes through my Io.other, for whom sl1{3 v1or}:s o:r1cc a 11Veelc~ Sl1e 11.as ~91~ovecl to 1Je, not Oill~T a good informant, but a wonderful peTson and talented singer. 09 lfir CCLLEOT'JD: Thursday, }Tarch 13, 3:00-5:00 C.I'l. COI~30TOR: Richard Gilson 2479 Peachtree Road Atlanta, Georgia Gilson: Hinnie: Gilson; Gilson: Gilson: Binnie: Gilsor1: Ic'dn:nie: Gilson: Gilso11: I-'Iinnie: C}ilson: I'm tall,:ing to Mrs. Hinnie Barnes v-ihos I e been living in Atlanta for twenty-five years, j_s that rig.ht Minnie? Thas I right. Uh, tell me ab.out state vms it? uh, where you vrere horn, and what I v-ms ba1rm in Sprawlj_n 'Oouny, faw mile below Griffin. Four miles below Griffin? Ba' foe mile belOl? Griffin., Uh hul1. And, uh, what about th,~ town? What was the ns,me of the town, do ya 1 know? Griffj_n, of house Uh, ,;-;ha . what type Well, irn live (lived) in one ah these lj_l' ole' frame house built. Jus 1 a frame house all's I 02.n say, be up den'. YP. 1 1rnov.r -'it 1,r::-1 sn' cemr-:,,~,t,=,d ,.r2n 1 vi,o l_Q/Jo' hrv'l!C'_.. e. _ .,_,,., .<. ._.., I , ..,_ a .._.... ,-,. ..... -,,.,,, .l,H ._, ' !('3 '.r J.J. 1,,,.. ~ jus' a frame, lil 1 ole' frame house. l'Jow, you you were, you uh, worked on a farm? Yes, I woiked on a but fo ( f ou; 3f us, boys,o:n the fam. -ft~- .. l.} '_. -,,-,.i,_h_a,.Y,.J.>J. ...,L. I .c._;:,, .+1... '-.'.L .-!~l~"" 1.. <" ' _D 8 .1d,, ( .;, ) Tl_j,L 1 -W- cr:-,, n f an I we had ta act as 01rra :parent's Jjow, u.h, whl, wJia 'd ya, wha 'd you _pick? I mean, you said, you said, you 1-v-ha', w0 s it cottan or soilletl"J.ing? Well, we ha(.l to pick cotten, pli' (plt9ugh) anything to.' do, that had ta' come ta' do on the fam, we did. Well, let me, we 11, let's stat:t from the beg:Lm1i:ng of the i;mrlr: day and jus', just t,:::11 me what you dld, you k:ncn;,r, like from when you got up in the mornj_ng? l'Iinnie : Gilson: Gilson: Gilson,: Minnie: Gilson: Hinnie Gilson: Gilson: I:n the rnornj_n' '? I got I.:rn in the mornin I an I fj_x breal'd'as '. Yeab .. I cl3an WJ the kitchen, then I go to th,:! f:le1 '(fie1d) an' TTOik. - (, ~.L i':;- o,~ lC~h i 11 1_i ,_e.,,_.,._, . C, -[ J1LlO .n. - E.,' -. I just wanted you to face the microphone when you ta.lk. Then I go to the fisl' an woik until twelve atclock. Then I, 't:U. eleven O'clock when I come b2..ck home an'hel};) get my, ::."'t. dinner stated. rhen I vro1...1.ld. go back to the fiel' an 'woi.k 'til sundown. 1fe11 ncn,.y thif,, ,;,rell then you p:lcked cot ten d.1.n'ing that time. ii.nd ~ploughed .. /,.y1d then, uJ1, wha 'd you do when you, 1~rhen you were done .with that? You know, when you ca1ne home? We go, we come ho:rne at night, then, I 1:-Jas set up, :stan' up an' 'ine {iron) clothes 'til t1ilelve o'clock at night to help my mother get her woik done. Ahm wha.t, wh2,t was, did your parents B.lso do the samething y-- ru.1 1- C1t.-1-u1'i' T)7'rl -l-'1e" -l-?.-1c,-, II> J ..... -- ...,-.. t,l J : VJ. C eJ 9 e 8 1111 Hy, my l,")a .. rents d.id the sarne thing I c1 id every day, but my mother, she washed and 1 ine ..... She washed and .... for a liv, livin 1 , an she would feed an clode(clothad) us out dat w2 .. shin' an iro11en, &1..n' at tv-rel ve o'clock, I sat up 'ti.1 tweJ.ve o'clock at nj_ght an' ':Lne clothes 'til twelve o'clock every n:'Lght 1til we get our woik done, ircnen done. Novr -,That was your maiden name'? What, wb.at was your family's J.a.st name (do ya' remember)? I/innie: G-j_lson: Minnie: Gilson: Nin:n:1.e: G::Llson: Gil2,on ~ Minnie: Gilson: Hy 1nomrn.a 's ns.me wf,.8 Sally Will ike. Mich2,el. Hy fa t,ha' ws,s -Jame :Jj__J.1ika l!i1chael. And, uh, d-id you grow uq? I mean, I, did you grov-r, of cou.-rse you oOT8W UT)! (, ~lJfYhl."'r) f'lo T rnr-> ,:;_r1 tih 1.1.:h whan you till . ..,. ., ....... ..Lc., ... o-- ... -- ~-? ... 1... __ ,_....,.c:,t ! ............ ,- -,.!~. __ ., ...... _ Ill !.. .. ,-....J.. were g:r-o,;n_ng 1.,rp, I mean, did you, ClJ..d you l.i.ve, live in t..hc,1., same commtmity 'til, 'til how old we1~e you? (I gueEs I 1--rn.s rr1ore ner-vollS tl1a .. 11 sl1e -vraJs. ) I stayed in th8.t co:i.:Olllv.ni ty I rec on' arot.J..D.~ I wa' baw11 an rais1 aro1m 1 , :Ln that com.muni ty an I my motha' died ,-.rhen I was t-i:-;renty-five (mistake), twenty. Ifa ,;-Ta bus(?) eig,_}iteen years old. Thei1 I left and went to Macon. riy sister marrieo. and I went to lfa.con and stayed Ni th her dov--m ther fo .fifteen yeas, then I came back here to AtJ.ana. Uh 1:n:L.11, and you've been liven' here for, -for the 1=2.st -twentyfive. I been li vin hea' fo' the i:,ast twenty fj_ve yeas. And, 11h, how 'bout that com.DJ.unity where you, where you were born'? Was it a large co1,rn1unity at the time? Yeah, it -;;,ms a large comm.unity and a good neighborhood cornmm1i ty and a good neighborhood. collliil.Lmi.ty ii.'1ere we stayed a.le" Uh huh. Well, what di.a. you do for recreati.on when you weren't wo1~1d11g? . Well, we 1d catch us s: mule. Lead the mule out there to um house sturn:,;:i an I get u:p on that nmle aJ.1 1 rid.e u-o an' dovr.n -'- 1ne hi,.,,11,-r.--.17 'P11"'S' 0,1-... --,eC""'e-:,+-'lon We ..J_,:dn' h,,::.,-,'.l "V\o ,l"'C"' LL .L-=r6 :.'1,Cl.-.,j ....,._ t:.,:, 1,..,...,L ..L -.L O.,Y-!_. 1- :U l.t __ . __ t_ ~.o.\."-" ..f..!. l l- e,:, V like to go to shows an' like gauls(girls) and things do now. Well, w"ha'a. you do, just play with each other? T.u,T i_ _r )_ 1.1 1 e . \ :::fr,f TVn J...n...s I r./..l..,. aye a'L I'-/'f. l' +v1.-L-.1 e-r--1,.:."i c 11.1 ot;h c;'t..i ' , t _l~1-]'. llac- 1, ,.J..L -;Jc .,. L ,]_C'l COnA-<o> 8 .TOUJ'J. 1 'l-,0 -~rl.o..~,J".0- Uc'-"'"el1 1.r,.l- we did 1 11 have no body to play with very Gllson: and sometimes oua cousin W(-': 'd play with them, but 1nuch, ju8' us JG-~--ro. Uh hu.,2. Now, I heer you know some ghost stories. Oan you tell me, uh, a storyT l-'Ti11r1:te : GilSOl1! Gilson: f1in11ie : GilSOil! l'lirrnie: Gilson G-ilsor1: Gilson: Yes. They use 1 to tell us about the tches an' thing. Had us scead(scared) to go to bed 1 soead to sleep. Said j_f 1.re didn I be a good l i};: 1 , good, good gaul, that them tches was gain' get us at night. Wadd2. YfJ mean they 1d get ya, you know. They s::=do. that they vrere come duH11 an' goin 1 9ull ,,a'Lcd eyes out, and we were scead that they goin'dig our eyes out. 'rhen, once where, ale ' man clled dovrn belov-J us an 1 , llle_ e ,v;r!-lc-,1 s C~ 'Q r".-.,.-.1.P.,..0....,1_:r..-.i..c,J",_ 1, +"'1--1-'v~v +.v o....l..... d u~ s +v.'~t.1 8, 1i-1'c"....', -~, 1Tc'"~itw:c Or ro1__,_,, _1__ 110Ye. t 1,.,1..~:,c:.':"i' 'cause he was a weekid rn.2.n an I he said his ghost HE1.s comin' back there, an' we belj_eve th8.t he, '.hat was a gl10st, an' v:re 1i1Ta.s -scead t1f1 hi1rr~ Well, let me ask you. Did you ever, did anything ever ha1Jpe11, uh, d:Ld you ever see a wi tell, e:c Well, tell me about it. I Iil88.:t}, r2a11y? Yotl S8.Il a g}1ost~ I really saw one! Soon, one I vrnuldn 1 Yeah. mornj_n 1 , 1riy da 1 (dad) get no wata' in. An' gonna make me go ta I bey(?), to get some w:.::.ts1.' an' I wouldn' go out. I lay tbea' lookin' out the winda, a.n I s1.::.-w somethj_n' out the winda, looked like a wh5.tE, sheet, It had go up an' come dovm, c:n then it come right close again, and then it spread way out again go up again, and I called my marnma and told her ta 1 look. She look, an 1 when she looked, out thea' she saw it. So sha tol' 'em that we were, I weren' gain' out there an gettin' no, ,_,d,, ... ,. )1 .,,.,,r ~ D, 1l' ( 9~ )\ \--1 so 11 ~,.,10 -cc::1/1 1 ''10 ~ 1 1c'n ~- 1- 011 .-,,, ol<=> 1P'1-cs-,-'- !!!, J;,..l ' - i.;::. t.:) CJ .. - ~ Vl Ct 1--..i .tl. J; ,. b ..... ~ ' l.;ll ,::._,_.__ b <.], ):;,: } . ....... ~-U. J '...::, V $ We tol I e so 'kay. '!Te goin' show you. Cne these night::J you st8.;'l out ls1:te at nlght. ain I goin' feed ya11 mule. We goin' let you have to go get it. Yeah? JHn:nie: Gilson: Gilson: Mlnnie: Gtlson: G-l]_SC.l1.; Gilson: Feed ya1,f OVtm mule. So who, he wen' :Ln thea1 to get his c;:;.wn, had to go in a log hou', to get his cav,m to feed h'i O 0,11 "'"'1 -'-..I.. :,:;::;i J__ ,l l,.i . 1;:, , Cr,..:. 1' .0:. e 1r:,,. r,_c..,-.Ln.,.-, LL.,- do. -;.,-,r._nJ_ +u_h..!:.A.._.. Ac... , e',".,l . ".J. I ,s o[ ,~1 e 1 -Lrt DO "v"Ji..1-'P-" l- l"l. .~., ,....,, _,_h ~i n I him d 01irr1 there s.n' run hirn out ta, the :re An I so he began then to feel 1 :Lke that we do lG'.J.OW wha I go I lie have seen sornethi.1i. r do1,n:1. tl1ere. ;,rel1, let me a.sk you this. Tn'1,.th1, the ghosts ever 11ay a vis:'i.t ta to anyone you kno1'r? do you lrnow any ti1nes, has ar1yorie ever -told yo1..1 c1tJol.:I.-G t11e ti111-e i;,-rl1er1 a~ ghost, al1, 11ra,s aft,::~r them or anything l ilte that? WeJ.l, one come to 01..1.r house one n:'Lght e,fta :ma;1u,1a. dled 1 ce.use it vrc.s the boy my :ma1mna tol I not ta come ta, not ta come go wi' my sista. So he was goin 1 spen' ~he night there that 11i2:ht. So I s lf,.te that ni,g:ht a.11 wen' off an 1 ~ . . - J- p_f~ 1A'u7 . Tl1~v ~o~~ it tn ~0 ~,h~rrt ~,1 1 -som~ c-nm0 thAr~ __ ,.,,.. l.! ~ _ t.,..'-' u ..t._c--..,. __ ;.r u ... J u..,,.c,o. ... ___ 1_.~- -ir .. !.::L- LL-...,. _,.L,........, ...., ,, ....... ....., tlw.t night an l:.'Lke scead every1,ody to death but me. It scead, lt sceacl. me too, but Iwouldn' act like it scead me. 11.XJ. ' tll8.. . p J; ~ ~ You saw it, though? I 88.-':IJ i-r~, a.n' ht1d it. .i1.11 1 11rl1e tever. i t 1:!a.d, J.. t got in el,, cha5.r right at the foo' ah owa bed s.n' rock, a:n' I WD.' h;2ar .t'.)JJJ 1 rocker hit the bed, hit the bed, boomp: boomp ! ( taps tabla. ) 1nce that ..:".11 1 I wou1cln I turn, I 1iTOU1dn' ligl1~t ~t11e J..s.1111J to i:3ee 1rrJ1.at 1:t v~;"f.iS ah, }?l~cba.lJly sc:39,.0_ ta ltg11t, ctrlc1 rn.y- ~111(1\.1..rt1t?) 11a.s sce2Lcl to lif'1J:-:rt, -SJ. . 11-' all of v.. s TJ)3,S scea,cl! L.11 11e C1idn' co1ne tl1c-;r~e Ito rno:J, ar1' 11re did11 1 hav,::::: no m.ore trouble vii th nothin 1 corn.in I in owa hou'. Boy! I never had a visitation :f:-a era c:'., 1, .. ' ~~ 6 ..... J.J. ;ye i:, I :t~.8 ~Yl, ~fr 0111 a ghost. you take a ole' pason an 1 he's sin, he's already a witch. He te. scea' ya'. .not right, he a:'Ln 1 got nothLn 1 {Tel1, I 1nee~n, do1:1 '~c tJ:1e3r 1"1Et1re ctr1y s1)eo1al I)OTrtel"S or 81'.lYthing? I mean, ther, they, they, I , they should even 11.~t\te rrio:ca. 1)01:r{el''S tl1a11 gl1osts, I nh:!~3 .. n, 1'T1t,cl1es eJ., '1., & .. ~ * Gtl.soi1: :;:.:;J.nnie: C+1lso11: Hinnie: Gilson: El.nnie: can come d!::U1. c orne "/;/ rJ Ctl.J. do,? can come in there. c orne in :,:1 you, c.n'e I iT1p;c,_;1., C.o you remer1Der any, anybody te 'U1 1 you1 uh, about a witch that maybe casts a spell on them, or something li tl18~t ~ Yas, D1)/ 1LT1Cle SD .. ic1 8. lll8.ll sts,yed 1,..:ritl1 lliJJJ O~ilC81 ::\11 t i1e -~-/~~",i3 so Ii18ELll to 11}.s \'Ilfe ~ .A.r1 t lf112Il 1"1j_s Tf'.Lfe ~;;T8.S~ "~ .11.e v;a,:tl r goocl to he :c. So, 1:rhen he 'd be goin I t3. be cl :c. t n:Lght he couldn 1 rer, "--~ "L. c.:, 1 '1-C] ,_ ow lic1.. . .. ,, + 0 '' 'hc"'.7"8 i\1 ! <' 10 1--,cc, (,o-7 J b;:,J 12 ""'l Y,c,<' I U,..,,C, .( i.:: 1) ... t vJ. u l-t __ , l .~-G~..... ~.,_l o .u._. c:;, .!..- _. _ ,,., ___ '-' c:...~ J...J...,..-C:.. come a hat, hea' comes some cats. An' so you hea' them cats tr1 tJ1ere 2.. . 11' ss.. . 3.rs tl1e~y- 'cl j1J.s' 1J(:?. H.J.l o~v,s, tJ1a~' rD.a,:r1 's Jie8)i and hs jus 1 hollad. Rea.ll~r? 011~, 11::t n1e see rto\1T~ LJJ-1, is the1~e an~rtl1tng else ;y-ou cs.n tell me about that? Abcut, .YCLl. lcnow, abnut witches ['j_nd~ s1lr)e 1~11a. t u~rs.1 t.hint; s ~ Ul1 ~ s,r1.:y-tJ1t11g Lt 1..nl::;~J1t ~cemenfbe z ?' Well, s.in' but one thing I else I can remember. I remember once n1y dady, my momma told my daily not to 1>:rhu) us: an I he wa' whu:;i m_y baby sis ta. An I he, an' she run hea 1 ( i:..tla:atc,,). fl2, 1 it, he falla him from a beloo:rs ov.ra house an 1 '.:12 couldn. 1 stop at home. He had a J:;:~".ep a wallcin'. A~1 wh:en he e U), he end Uil in Griffin. Really? Hhat Eibout, uh, you 1;rere telllng me about remedhis:? You }mo;1r J.j_ke tlTe thtngs they used to clo to cure 1Je 0_9le from i.llne2:ses. Oh, yeah; [rfhen I lims s't.ck wit I the hlgh (?), h'Jd the, 1..,1.h, feva, how, uh, relay(?) with feva. Eymo,~llD, use to go an 1 get these hea', they call 1em butterfly root, an' boil it clown, an' gi v:2 it to me ta. drink ta keep my feva down. An I that llOrke d? An' it work. As, we novah did have no docta like folks have, doctas no-iv. They, they get all this ole' bonH3 maybe like, J"1 "IC' I 7 \ 1~"' ~ 11ve - 0n' ' ''-h - . --111 l -'--- 1- 11 re-+ ;o ll'1 1,.,,U .____,-~~e J, le. Gt . ...,vL, !..J.._lL3;:/ \_fl/tJv .. ~C, VC.l\.8 a_;. 6:;ju- so-:1r ...... , .-L., ( -I- '"I) 0 + r, h l a I O 11 'L1:1 i r ,-:, 'C' n .--, on-::, r,-y.,=, 0 "e a "1 ! r1;:) 1-a " ,S t1..~1J_"f u .-0~, ;..--;i uc. . 1-.-.,_v II' / .... ,IL .. ,c -"u-..l..v ct_ :::i !. ..... ',.-, 0---. .._,, 0~f::i ~l ... Lr:::.si ~;,;::. c.,,. - , --, ~!,..I -0-1.11 gree ze ya r0ll ov2. fo that ::m give ya some casta oll.- l hated ge; .,_J:a t. That did :'Lt? (,/hat about, uh, I mean, were there any k,'Lrn.t of, lfJ., of, uh, I reme:mber they, they use to, uh, be able to, uh, t1h, conjure up things, like they co-i...1ld, they could; ri.b.) cast a spell on a sic};:ne ss so it 11 go 2cway. l'h2rae are c:::rtain J:.Tinnie: Gilson: Minnie: Gilson: Hinnie: Gilson: M:'Lnnie: Gilson: words that they used to use ..... ~. vJ ..es, -tI1 '1ey, uh_ ., 't1._ 1ey, -lv'- ...h ey h- 8~Ve .u;... .h. . !.e, ..l.,. i1.' le}..,. ge t .... , b_,,1 an' > vne 1 .1-0 __ ._. .. they read the bible in such chapta in the bible, if a person havin I a spell, if you can, 1.,1]1., use that twenty, twenty-th1rc1 psalm ( it's's,?.t). Tvrnnty-th:Lrd psalm? Uh huh. The Laud is my she:i}a 1 , an tha.t wiJ.l (taps table), thas 1 1.ike you, l.-Lh., bleedin ', out ya self an you bleedin 1 , uh, like your have your nose or somethin' bleed, you re:pea:t the twenty-third psalm (taps table) ova an' ova, an it will stop ya. Really? Really. I heard sometijing like that before,once. It will 1 'ca~se I have tried it. 7 :;1hat about, someth:'Lng. uh, what about somebody's got a rash or a we,rt or How would you get rid of it? A what? Gilson: lwhat ii' somebody's would ~au get rid of it. or any1hing like that? got a rash. How, or a wart, how, how Or so~ebody had a pain in their shoulder, Gilson: Gilson: Well, it's a suten WQ,Y that you can rub a. pusen with the pa1n an', ln the shoulda, jus' a suten Tife,y that you r1.1-b 1em that you oan, uh, ease that pain out, an' you could :pick it Ul). You mean it, you can transfer from them to you? you can te 11 1fhe11 it leavi11 Well then, 1,<Fhat do you do 1iitl1 it after you got it? Gilso:n: 11:l 11n.ie- : Gilson: Gtlson: Yinn:1.e: Gilson: Minnie: Gj_lson: l-Ii1111i13: Gilsor1: well, you got to J.un hovr ta th.ro1T it offa you. Yes~ It's pain the off sctra.e trick that you got to lu11 to throw that you. Do you k.now it? Well, paht of it~ I mean, is it, is it a sGcret. Can you tell me? Jus' paht of it. I know paht of it. I,t,1,::.J_l, i.1-"' yo1 "h 111~, 1 111~r.:i -,-f.' yon 1~1;:,,-.d-"1Y1 1 0-7 ~, ... .,.,-/ Vci,r .....,. -- - t,.,-. ' l,.,t., ' cJ '-.-b -!.. ~\.~ _ _,__.J... . tiL .!. ,__.. ..I... ~ _1..- ....!...!.- j C:, ~- , ~ c... ,~ baclc. I talce my han I an.', an I I ca11, ( taps table) I jus I repeat the ti;-rnnty0--thlrd psalm, jus' keep a rubbin 1 you~ Yeah? I got. ]JUt no thin' on ya. I kee1:i re:Je a tin' t t. .An I jus', S1.l-t1-.18ll .W: ~aJ,- J 'u_;;~:, ' 1_1__1-- s.-._e [-;!,. (JG-c-t._-~)c:::,i 'L- ,8,,U.L,8; ) --r.J- l. ~11-+-1 ,--e J 1[/ctlCJ.lEL Cc.:I. VJ.'1eo doc ta what, uh, cL ... , cs.rp:cacta.s ( chiroprr9.cto:cs) docta.s cJ..' o --{~, ,cI::;o r~.-q- ..l... 7....t..v,v "' ".f.F. ou '_r_l1__:- .,! .R.,_1,_ 1 ClJ'.~.1.-.0.. .. :o:.,:_> noth.!;,,_:'!:,!'.,,,f,'.- :, J"J-;u,::: ;t,;v,.,. . 1.....1:.. -eer.J..;.. C~l . J._,;-,l -l.1,,.~,_) b.1i._--11 1 .::";:>i I'~l- 1 ill8.. 8}1 ir1', J~Y1' the 's a s1..1te11 v-rc.tv 1ro1.1 cs.n ms~sh a. noiso11 f,.rJ8 .a-,..S,-, on ) s~. _n_ 1 =.1.1)._h__i__n__ 1 C_qe -.:~_-J-U.. c.SC,L1. v,-v'-'.:L'.._l J,-v~L-;. O~c.ll , 1.1t.~J. ~ ~ !...L ,.l--n\T-.c-:-; tc1,lc~:1~.v n1lsry,a i~:21L:e s i3811Se, yci Et bout :r-5.cldle .s. lT0JJ.cler:Lr1g IO.fi,ybe kn(YW. How 'bout, vJ.1, alright~ l,3t 's talk Remember, uh, I told you a few, ;.;:.n r I was if you know some that I donrt. Let 158 see v.:rhj_ch on,:: I av.ght no riddle, is it? ':,,.-. _l\; u 11, ,a, IS B ilf l(lr111ie : 2{i1111ie: Gilson: You told me that. ( glggle ) I J::1101rT? s,t least I ren1erniJ3red one, , ,:.;.: '., just mayi)e, ya lrnow, just maybe I don't think mioropho1~e. ) So ,jl w1ia~ t i s tl1B, t ? (I accidently touch Hm;r's that go? 'iihat is this, is rime(?), go ro1..md in the middle an' got a~ l1ole j_n i JG~ r ~V11a.t? Gi1son: l1:ilBOll: Yeah? But it ha' 1 got a hole in the middle. Gilson: }Jj_n11ie : G:tls on: Gilson: Gilson: Gilson: Ninnie: Gilson Eirmie: G:'i.lson: G:1-lson: f),_ do1..1gl1n.u.t? Ye8,h~- .:Do 3ra t:11otr, Q_o -~re.. lc1.101:I .s,n-;./ otl1e rs? :De used to tell, maybe? lfuat ..... , lil' Boe ?eeJ .... , that ain't no riclc1le, in it? No. Lost his sheep? That one? Uh hul1. What about, 1Jh, ya ltnov-1 1::my c'.nimal ;::::torie s about J3rer Rabbit or Brer ~:Pox, 'l'ar Baby? Ya know anything about 11 Ja:i..nters ii (:panthers)? I use ta know 'bout, about Broth 1 Rabbit. Brer Rabbit use ta .... oh ye9h! Brer Brabbit tol 1 .Brer ]?ox one t:L.le, B r-:o-.L, L11ox 1,;"''" l"11 t,l11n 1 ,-1t "1r1''T' Pq1ilJ't-~l, u..1_, TI..1--_e,"11 };'.a1J1Jj_+ ,rn:c:: _\_,. _ ~-- .,,,_.-v}-J c.l,\,.-'i..c.;:.,- --.--- ,_,._,,! _l_. .._.._ Ll .::_ .. ,,,_., .. ' ;,, - -~ V ~ laughtdat Brer Fox fo bein' so ugly, an he tol' Erer TIc~.... b1I-J,.-Lt , i"_'',"o"~' _7, __ (J' _, '_ot.;,. '-b-11.'.7Lc-"c"'c .. C~"lCJC-C,,.U") .v.;c~t..n,-\,~-:.,::,,-~.1.-+f, -' . s-..A.!..0'-' r~ ~pL.-.C,]!--",}-.J.r--''1-'+ l '_(L0e1~ .l,.-,.,.,l_OT_,.,,T I 1m sick. Hah. 'Cause he uas so ugly EH1 1 they were laugh-:Ln 1 'em. So he told Uh huh (coughs). Know any others like that? I think ttw:t I s 1bovrt all Is one .cc.: I can think of ri_ght nov;r. /() Gilson: }Cinnie: Gilson: 1vnnnie: Gilson: Minnie: Gilson: GllSOJJ,: T-J,=, 7 l 7 "i- I 0 "'"""' Lei t I c: ll ...... ...1.._, ...1..~ 1 ..._, 1:::i.v ........ 1-,, ~-- -,-. rv '"o.--::o .l.L,1- i 17 I c-1 .-, ,,:, TJi_-,,,,_ , IJ,:, t I fs,_' see ' -v IJ _,,.,l_..,. .L----~ v u...._d~ l! - ~ ,_. u.h, oh, you "i'rnre telling me about sorns slave jokes, you know, about, 1 bout, uh, the slave ,john, ya know. (cl?ar,s th.ros;t.) Oh, 'bout John when he vrent, he went ioun' an tol' nle' Masta abou 1 how, how them folds was) how fo steelinf his things? Yeah. n,1' 01~ I 1':fnQ1c:;, "'>'IY !lq,;;,-L~e- Jon1 '11 1 ti (Jo1,..11 \ 11 Yr->8 R' 111 hoss ..L:..l.- 1::::;: .,. . .-.:.C~- :.:., U , ... -. u c:., ;Po .l..!.'-' - ., l.l-~ ., / ..... ...., ~~- .._. Vi..L.i.. ' t...t mErn. I done been out th,3re, M:~d.3-ts., an' done 02:ught up II wid 'em. Basta, ya know they stellir1 1 ev2rything they can find!" Au' John had done stole' it hisself. Is that it? Do ya kn.ow any others?- Can you I kno;H your '2 not, you, you knoi;,r, ;y-ou know a your's telling, cause, I mean, you know, you rnv.st know some good stuff. ( airrkward 9leacHng thtnk of any? lot more than know, you on my part.) I use to know some lots of 1em, I tell you truth, but I, I ain I practlce, stop practicing tell in' jol-rns so_ much. Quit goin I out tellin I jokes somewhere. I use ta go out an' +all G 1Jla11ty n1.D '~~ vv C..t, .l;. 'I:..., - ._. y.!.:..C.-111 Well, come on. Tell me one. .F.. .lU. _1[1 ?, /\ ..J1.. . 0.,..L .,L -6.-, "J".)c :r,,.. L..). .<~"<J GC, ) ( _L,. ~J.J e, -l 1 U" 'le~.. C-:.v-,~, :r;:,) t,1-. j~ O'- av+W /1- T.... ,r....,..f-1,---,' -/C;-!,c:', -C.::', _H_ ."..'_ ,.9,. .... _, I '11 tell you thj_s one then: Once -th.::,re was a ole I man. He was sick, an he stay sick all the time go1u', couldn 1 get well, An' a docta, ha went to the docta, an 1 this man ... son stli;e_d to be a doc ta, toe. Yeah? C~llso.LL: You ~?re tsllin 1 me that thire 1 s ~ song you +he title to that song? Ch Laud, ain 1 but me one, I.18~ 1.1 d , 2:, 111 ' 1J tl t, illt?. o rt::: 11 B:r.fta cry so;:1ec:rn1e, Laud, Hafta cry somet , Laud, Laud, ain 1 but me one 1 Oh Lsud, ain 1 but me one. Cttll 1 I ~ell road is hahd(hard) 1 11, my road is , ain 1 btlt n1e but m3 one, T}12 .. t~s -:~-1fuJ_! Yot1 see,, tha.trs, I 1-S.Ice tl12.t_;J l:_n_o1<r~ Tl1;3~t's a~ ,gl.. . 88.,t sor.t.g, ya, 1(110\i,T: 3u. . .!c t.o';) -"co ge~t zr:.~;l)_ tr:. s.-lng for Ins, ul1, j_t 's r..-.:.ot eas~y, y,s. 1:1101:-1"' IJe's s-:J d ... il J e 81).. S l{,3 e IJ Xl.:2 ":\Tr:::i :-:1 ,.. t}1.:~: c;ro s s ~ .'! 1 I J 11 [~ E1~Y1 rs ,j llS ; B. :fe;-.~ 2, thc~t fo y2.~ (:F1~eter1cls sl10 j~s l1olc1i11g a }1~;:n111e .. 1, tr31s '"'co :fit.~l.1t. o en1t.1ElJ~r28 :-3:Ci:lr311t., ) Jesus keep me near the cfoss, There so prec~ous found my dear.(?) _?1-;.,:3 e t O Et 1 ]~ t.f13r 1'1 :t 11 9,ll ~ s t r;e SLlH ' .li10 :fI1 0ff1 cn.T'8 1~e El0l1r1t2,i1111 (? ) is the era ~ (?) Be my glory river.(?) ' 1 rn3r ree,lshun soul Rest beyond the river. Yol.:t r:~e.=Lcl. -::/o~ll Jcl12~-c :_::;, . J11g, r, did you le2rn that song? Gj_17_n12 G-i:~nff;.e trw.t ole I t t,:;J.at o]_e ' t j_111e xe 1 :j. g101J_, relj_glon, t.J1s~ t, o l\? 1 c J_ -(ne l...,,e l J_ gt 0.11, It,' s good 111 '1101.J..gl1 f o 1112 & Gilson: Gilson: !:!rln11ie: Il~ is gooc1 I Vl}1e1:1 c1l:re-o .. , (?) It is good I am diran, (?) S'good 1naugh fo me. It was good fa Paul and SA.l, It w~b good fa Paul and Sal, It was good fo Paul and Sal, It is good p-(loug}1 f'o me. Gimme that ale I t~ne religion, G'i rnmp that ole I time religion, Giuu.11e til'1B.t ole' tirne 1~e15.gio1:1, It :ls good 'nough fo rne. You ss,y you J:'s:now this song, 11 Come By I-:l,ne, Lord"? How does that go? Gome by h,::re, m;:;,. L,3.Ud, come by here, Oome by h.s:ce, ma Lai..:td, e ome by h2re, Come by here, ma Laud, coma by here, Oh Laud, cone b;y here. T--)",c,7 7 you lovin' me, Laud, come by here, YillOW we need ya, Laud, corn.e by h2x'e, Know T>Te need ya, Laud, come by here, 011 LE~ 1,.lC1, c orn.e b:y~ l1s re Somebody diren (die 'n?) Laud, come by hare, '.:3om.ebody dj_ren, Laud, come by here, Somebody diren, Laud, come by here, Oh, Laud, CO2? by here. No,,r what's the nrnne of this other song that your b go.nna sirig?. 11 I Tfsnna Go Phe re J e i,n ..r n Is , 11 I wc:1.11na go where ,:Jesus is. I wanna go "(,,rhere Jesu.s is. I 1:Ia,11.11s .. go 1'\rl1eJ:e Jes i...1s>l ~ ~ Tl1as ' 1rir1y I V1r.an11a go, Th as I why I ,;,-ranna go I got Well, I go-t Ths..s' bus:lness over there, where Jesus is. I got business over there, where ,Je.sus is. bu.sines s over there, where Je sus. ~ . v.rhy I T:Tanna go, thas ' the re as on I 1-rn,:nna go. If I didn 1 have a cold, I could sing some! (End of recording.) /3 }?a.ge s: Identificat:i..on, B8.ckground Informa tio.n, and f~arly Life of Informant. 4-6 Ghosts and Witches (four stories and va1ious superstitions). 6-8 Folk Medicine 8-10 10 Animal Stories (one). 11 Jokes (two). 12, 13 Songs (five): 11 Jdn ' But Me One 11 11Jesus Keep 1-fe Near the CrossH llr,.7 ,-] r-1 -1-nr.> vol 7 ;::ri 0"' If \.,,...L.....,~ ~-- _..__. -~\.C-..l-~o ...... l..r. rrr'ln-.-1"" By r-1.,""'"'' Tor,1 11 V JJ.!.,.'-' J,.!.,.._.. ..L. i,.., ' .-1 ..... ~ ''I "1l8~lll'la GO Vft1ere Je f:111S Tc, !I _LO m.,ltlc''T= ~rt@ int~rt>iSted C!ll:!:l ,zi1di",rat,,nd 8 're 1. : T--1Jelc}1 Jrrirrt~d Ufed 1 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. 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