SHOUT MOURNER, YOU SHALL BE FREE

[Spoken]
Now folks, talk about your gentle in-folks
I'm going to give you the genteel

Banjo instrumental

Hot dog!

I saw Sal when she went out, I saw Sal pick out her route
Seen her lock the door, and I seen her hide the key
She's a mighty sharp nigger, but she can't fool me

Chorus:
Shout mourner, you shall be free
Shout mourner, you shall be free
When the good Lord sets you free

Did you have a song, baby, did you have a song

Oh, Miss Doe said you treated me mean
I'm a-tired of livin' on your pork and beans
You [she] may be warm, but I don't know
She ain't so warm 'til she melts the snow

Did you have a song, baby, did you have a song

Chorus

[Oh my little honey what happened in the lot
Keep out running in the buzzard trot]
The big mule throwed so the little mule kicks
That big nigger throwed the little in a ditch

Did you have a song, baby, did you have a song

Chorus

Me and my partner and two or three more
Hanging around Sam LaFevre's door
Buying whiskey and buying gin
Just a-getting right to go again

Gotta have a song, baby, gotta have a song

Source: transcription of Uncle Dave Macon 'Shout mourner, you shall be free' recorded in NYC on 8 September 1926 and issued as Vocalion 15445 in December 1926 and as Vocalion 5007 in February 1927.   Reissued on CD 3 in the Bear Family box set of Uncle Dave Macon recordings – BCD 15978 JM.

Note: what I have given in square brackets for the first 2 lines of stanza 3 is from the transcription on page 71 of the book accompanying the Bear Family box set. I don't think it is right, but I have no better idea of what he is singing. Any suggestions?

For information on this song, refer to this thread: CLICK HERE.

--Stewie.