You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive. Here's my transcription:


WATERMELON ON THE VINE
As recorded by J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers, June 15, 1936, Bluebird 6584.

1. See that watermelon; she's smiling through the fence,
Oh, how I wish that watermelon was mine.
White folks say I'm foolish; they shouldn't have lots of sense,
'Cause they wouldn't leave it hangin' on the vine.

CHORUS: Oh, hambone an' gravy, chicken am good.
Rabbit is so very, very fine. (Yes, indeed!)
Give me, oh, give me, oh, how I wish you would,
That watermelon hanging on that vine.

2. Talk about your apples, your peaches, and your pears.
Lemons am growing on a tree.
Bless your heart, little honey, you am the gal for me.
Lord, I wouldn't leave it hangin' on that vine.

3. I went to get that melon. It was one Saturday night.
The stars they had just begin to shine.
When I left that old man's field, I left there in a run,
But I never left that melon on that vine.