The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A MAN AND HIS WIFE HAD A LITTLE GIRL AND A LITTLE BOY. THE OLD
WOMAN LOVED THE LITTLE BOY THE BEST, & THE OLD MAN LOVED THE
LITTLE GIRL THE BEST. THIS OLD WOMAN JUST HATED HER, SO SHE
WAS GONNA KILL HER. SHE WAITED 'TIL THE OLD MAN AN' THE BOY
WERE WORKIN', AND' THE LITTLE GIRL STAYED THERE. SO, SHE
COME OUTSIDE, SHE KILLED THE LITTLE GIRL, AN' DRESSED THE
MEAT OUT, Y' KNOW, AN' SAVED IT FOR FOOD. THE LITTLE BOY,
WHEN HE CAME IN, SHE TOLD HIM SHE HAD SOME CHICKEN BONES, Y'
KNOW, SHE WANTED HIM TO GO OUT UNDER THE PALM TREE & BURY
THE BONES. GOT READY TO GO TO THE TABLE, THE FATHER SAID,
"WHERE'S JULIE?" SHE SAID, "OH, I DON'T KNOW, SHE WENT OUT
TO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TO PLAY. HERE, EAT THIS MEAT." SHE
WASN'T HUNGRY, THOUGH, SO HE ATE IT. THAT NIGHT THE LITTLE
GIRL STILL WASN'T THERE, AN' HE ASKED WHERE SHE WAS, AN'
SHE SAID, "SHE DECIDED TO STAY WITH SOME O' THE FOLKS, SO
A WOMAN TOLE ME." THAT NIGHT, LATE IN THE NIGHT, THEY HEARD
SOMETHIN' SAY, "MAMA KILLED ME, / PAPA EAT ME, / BROTHER
BURIED MY LITTLE BONES / UNDER THE PALM TREE." SHE SAID,
"WHAT IS THAT?" HE SAID HE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. SO, AFTER
A WHILE EVERYTHING GOT QUIET, AN' AGAIN THEY HEARD IT:
(REPEAT THE SONG). THEN FINALLY THE MAN HEARD IT. HE GOT
SO HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT. HE WENT UNDER
THE PALM TREE, AN' THERE WAS THE BONES, AN' HE SAW WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. SO THEY HUNG THE OLD WOMAN--HANGED HER--'TILL
SHE DIED.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-06-1973