[34] We are told that this song is common among the whites of Western North Carolina.

Bloodhoun’ on My Track

Bloodhoun’ from Macon right on my track,
Right on my track, right on my track.
Bloodhoun’ from Macon right on my track,
Wonder who gonna stan’ my bon’?

Buffalo Bill

I’m de bad nigger,
If you wants to know;
Look at dem rounders
In de cemetery row.
Shoot, nigger,
Shoot to kill,
Who’s you foolin’ wid?
My Buffalo Bill?
Buffalo Bill
Wus a man of might,
Always wore his britches
Two sizes too tight.
Split ’em nigger,
Ride ’em on a rail;
I’ve got de mon to
Pay yo’ bail.

Dat Leadin’ Houn’

Dere’s a creeper hangin’ ’roun’,
I’m gwiner git ’im I be boun’.
Den dey put dat feller in de groun’
An’ I be listenin’ fer dat houn’,
Dat leadin’ houn’.
All aroun’ here,
All aroun’ here,
What does I keer?
Listenin’ fer dat leadin’ houn’.
Steal in home middle o’ de night,
Give dem folksies sich a fright.
Say, “Feed me, woman, treat me right,”
But she send fer de sheriff
An’ de leadin’ houn’.

Outrun Dat Cop

Hi lee, hi lo, happy on de way,
Hi lee, hi lo, outrun dat cop today.
Hi lee, hi lo, watch his shirt-tail fly,
Hi lee, hi lo, ’splain to you by and by.

Don’t You Hear?

Don’t you hear dat shakin’ noise?
Don’t you hear dat creepin’ ’roun’?
Don’t you hear dat stefly walkin’?
Dat’s dat man I laid down, laid down.
Can’t you hear dem bones a-shakin’?
Can’t you hear dem dead man’s moan?
Can’t you see dem dead man’s sperrits?
Can’t you see dat man ain’t gone?

I’s a Natural-bo’n Eastman

I’s a natural-bo’n eastman,
An’ a cracker jack,
I’s a natural-bo’n eastman
An’ a cracker jack,
On de road again,
On de road again.

I Steal Dat Corn

I steal dat corn
From de white man’s barn,
Den I slips aroun’,
Tells a yarn,
An’ sells it back again.
I steal dem chickens
From de white man’s yard,
Den I tells dat man
I’s workin’ hard,
An’ I sells ’em back again.
I steal de melons
From his patch,
It takes a smarter man dan him
Fer ter ketch,
An’ I sells ’em back again.

I’m de Rough Stuff

I’m de rough stuff of dark-town alley,
I’m de man dey hates to see.
I’m de rough stuff of dis alley,
But de womens all falls for me.
Lawd, Lawd, how dey hates me!
Lawd, Lawd, how dey swear!
Lawd, Lawd, how dey hates me!
Lawd, Lad, what-a mo’ do I care?

I Ain’t Done Nothin’

Went up to ’Lanta,
Who should I meet?
Forty-leben blue coats
Comin’ down de street,
Forty-leben blue coats
Comin’ down de street.
I ain’t done nothin’,
What dey follerin’ after me?
I ain’t done nothin,
Can’t dey let me be?

When He Grin

His head was big an’ nappy,
An’ ashy wus his skin,
But good God-a’mighty, man,
You forget it when he grin.
His nose wus long an’ p’inted,
His eyes wus full o’ sin,
But good God-a’mighty, man,
You forget it when he grin.
His foots wus long an’ bony,
An’ skinny wus his shin,
But good God-a’mighty, man,
You forget it when he grin.
He’d fight ten,
He could sin, always win,
But good God-a’mighty, man,
You forget it when he grin.

Shot My Pistol in the Heart o’ Town[35]

O Lawd,
Shot my pistol
In the heart o’ town.
Lawd, the big chief hollered,
“Doncha blow me down.”
O Lawd,
Which a-way
Did the po’ gal go?
She lef’ here runnin’,
Is all I know.
O Lawd,
Which a-way
Do the Red River run?
Lawd, it run east and west
Like the risin’ sun.
Black gal hollered,
Like to scared my brown to death.
If I hadn’t had my pistol
I’d a-run myself.
O Lawd,
Jes’ two cards
In the deck I love
Lawd, the Jack o’ Diamonds
An’ the Ace o’ Clubs.
O Lawd,
Stopped here to play
Jes’ one mo’ game.
Lawd, Jack o’ Diamonds
Petered on my han’.

[35] For music see Chapter XIV.