The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE POOR OLD SLAVE

THE POOR OLD SLAVE HAS GONE TO REST
HE KNOWS THAT HE IS FREE
HIS BONES THEY LIE DISTURBED AND NIGH
WAY DOWN IN TENNESSEE
THE PEE OR OLE SLEE AVE HAS GEE AWN TO REE EST
HE KNEE OWES THAT HE O IS FREE O FREE FREE
HIS BEE OWNS THEY LEE I DEE STEER RUBBED AND NEEI
WAY DEE OWN IN TE N O SE O SE SE MM
THE PIG-ITTY POOR OLE SLIG-ITTY SLAVE HAS GIG-ITTY GONE TO
RIG-ITTY REST
HE NIG-ITTY KNOWS THAT HIG-ITTY O IS FRIG-ITTY O FREE FREE
HIS BIG-ITTY BONES THEY LIG-ITTY LIE DISTIG-ITTY URBED
AND NIG-ITTY NIGH
WAY DIG-ITTY DOWN IN TIG-ITTY N O SIG-ITTY O SEE SEE

Submitter comment: THIS SONG IS SUNG PHONETICALLY. THE INFORMANT IS NOT SURE
WHERE SHE FIRST HEARD THIS SONG. SHE THINKS IT WAS DURING
THE 1940'S IN GRAND BEND, CANADA AT A PARTY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTHVILLE

Date learned: 10-00-1987