The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #103320   Message #2103463
Posted By: Azizi
15-Jul-07 - 02:00 PM
Thread Name: add/origins: A Man Of Words And Not Of Deeds
Subject: RE: add/origins: A Man Of Words And Not Of Deeds
Off-topic.

Since the rhyme "Old Man Know-All" was mentioned in my last two posts, I'll share it here:

OLD MAN KNOW-ALL
Ole man Know-All, he come 'round
Wid his nose in de air, turned 'way frum de ground.
His ole woolly head hain't been combed fer a week;
It say: "Keep still, while Know-All speak."

Ole man Know-All's tongue, it run;
He jes know'd ev'rything under de sun.
When you knowed one thing, he knowed mo',
He 'us sharp 'nough to stick an' green 'nough to
grow.

Ole man Know-All died las' week.
He got drowned in de middle o' de creek.
De bridge wus dar, an' dar to stay.
But he knowed too much to go dat way.

Thomas W. Talley, {"Negro Folk Rhymes"; Kennikat Press, Inc. 1968; pps. 211-212; originally published, 1922 The Macmillan Company}