Jaybird and Sparrow
Found in Thomas W. Talley's Negro Folk Rhymes, 1922, therein called "The Town and Country Bird".
Recorded on Bound to Go.
Jaybird swingin' a two hoss plow—
"Sparrow, why not you?"
"Why, my legs so little and slender man,
I's feared they'd break in two;
My legs so little and slender man,
I's feared they'd break in two."
Jaybird answer, "What you say?
—I sometimes worms tobaccy,
But I'd druther plow sweet taters too,
Than to be an old town tacky.
I'd druther plow sweet taters too,
Than to be an old town tacky."
Jaybird up in the sugar tree,
The sparrow on the ground
Jaybird shake the sugar down,
And the sparrow say, "Pass it round."
Jaybird shake the sugar down,
And the sparrow say, "Pass it round."
Jaybird say, "Save some for me,
I needs it when I bakes."
Sparrow say, "Use 'lasses suh,
That suits for country jakes."
Sparrow say, "Use 'lasses suh,
That suits for country jakes."