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Discussion on Banjo-L: Jenny Get Your Hoe-Cakes Done
From Jenny Get Your Hoe Cakes Done

Jenny Get Your Hoe Cakes Done
(1840)The Celebrated Banjo Song, as sung with great Applause at the Broadway Circus, by Joel Walker Sweeney, ca. 1810 - 1860[Source: 020/003@Levy]

1.
De hen and chickens went to roost,
De hawk flew down and hit de goose
He hit de ole hen in de back
I really believe dam am a fac,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done.
 
2.
As I was gwain lond de road,
Past a stump dar wad a toad.
De tadpole winked at Pollewog's daughter,
And kick'd de bull frog plump in de water.
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
3.
High heel boot widout any strap,
Hand me down my leghorn hat,
Ise gwine to de Astor [b???] to dine,
I won't be back till half past nine
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
4.
Massa and Missus gwain away,
Left home for de break ob day,
Den you har de white folks say,
Stan clar and det de banjo play --
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
5.
Apple cider, un percimmon beer,
Christmas comes but once a year,
Ginger puddin and pumkin pie,
Gray cat kick dat black cat's eye
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
6.
Massa un Misse promise me
When dey died to set me free,
Now dey both are dead and gone,
Left ole Sambo [haeing?] out corn
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
7.
Old Massa, and Misse [- - -];
Da left home one [morn'ing?] great about day;
And den you har dat nigger say,
Gi me down de banjo and let de nigger play!
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
8.
You eat me sugar, and drink my tea,
And ran about de old [field?] and talk about me;
Dare was a nigger in de gutter and turned right about
And up stept [Jo?] and got his [- - -],
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
9.
Dare was a frog jumped out de spring,
It was so cold he couldn't sing,
He tied his tail to a hickory stump,
He rared an pitched but he couldn't make a jump,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
10.
The old hen and chickens at the stack,
And old hawk flew down amongst de pack,
And struck the old hen whack [amidlle?] ob de hack,
And I really do believe dat tis a fact.
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
11.
Now white folks, I'd hab you to know,
Dare is no music like de old banjo,
And if you want to hear it ring,
Jist watch this finger on de string.
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!