Walk, Jaw Bone

[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]

A minstrel song written expressly for Cool White, 1844
Words and Music by Silas Sexton Steele

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The sheet music:

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Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:

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Lyrics

1. In Caroline, whar I was born,
   I hust de wood, an’ I chop de corn,
   A roasted ear to de house I bring,
   But de driver cotch me and he sing:

CHORUS
Walk, jaw bone, Jenny come along,
In come Sally wid de bootees on,
Walk, jaw bone, Jenny, come along,
In come Sally wid de bootees on.

2. De cord de driver from me rob,
   An’ he make me eat de cob;
   I chaw de cob until my gums
   Stick out like Carolina plums.
3. Dey fasten me up under de barn,
   Dey feed me dar on leaves ob corn;
   It tickled my digestion so,
   Dat I cotch de cholerophoby, oh.
4. Dey mad me a scar-crow in de field.
   And a buzzard come to get his meal,
   But in his face I blowed my bref,
   An’ he was a case for ole Jim Death.
5. Next come a hungry eagle down,
   Oh! gosh thinks I, dis nig’s done drown;
   But he winked an’ cried “I’se de bird ob de free
   And won’t eat de meat ob slabery.”
6. Next come a weasel for my juice,
   An’ he gnawed till he untied me loose,
   An’ den I mad off wid a quick salarm,
   An’ lef’ him be widout a dram.
7. Den down de bank I see’d de ship,
   I slide down dar on de bone ob my hip;
   I crossed de drink an’ yare I am,
   If I go back dar, I’ll be damn

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