His Songs: VI. Plantation Play-Song . Uncle Remus Translation. It's Getting Mighty Late, When the Guinea Hens Squall. Uncle Remus.

 HIS SONGS: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

VI. Plantation Play-Song
Translation
(Putnam County 1856) FN 1

It's getting mighty late, when the Guinea hens squall,
And you better dance now, if you're gonna dance at all,
For by this time tomorrow night you can't hardly crawl,
'Cause you'll have to take the hoe again and likewise the maul -- FN 2

Don't you hear that bay colt a-kickin' in his stall?
Stop your humpin' up your shoulders --
That'll never do!
Hop light, ladies,

Oh, Miss Loo!
It takes a heap of scrougin'
For to get you through --
Hop light, ladies,
Oh, Miss Loo!

If you niggers don't watch, you'll sing another chime,
For the sun'll rise and catch you if you don't be mighty soon;
And the stars is gettin' paler, and the old gray coon
Is a settin' in the grape-vine a watchin' for the moon.

When a feller comes a-knockin
Just holler --Oh, shoo!
Hop light, ladies,
Oh, Miss Loo!
Oh, swing that yellow gal!
Do, boys, do!
Hop light, ladies,
Oh, Miss Loo!

Oh, turn me loose! Let me alone! Go 'way, now!
What do you expect, I come a dancin' for if I don't know how?
These are the very kind of foots what kicks up a row;
Can't you jump into the middle and make your gal a bow?

Look at that mulatto man
A-followin' up Sue;
Hop light, ladies,
Oh, Miss Lou!
The boys ain't a-goin'
When you cry boo hoo --
Hop light, ladies,
Oh, Miss Lou!

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FN 1 - Putnam Counties are in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois - elsewhere?

FN 2 - Maul = ax-looking tool, also like a hammer, narrow blade head, for splitting wood, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splitting_maul