An old song given me by Joseph A. Turner, of Hollins, Virginia, mentions a crude banjo. The music to this was written down for me by Ruth Hibbard, of Hollins College.
BROTHER EPHRUM GOT DE COON AND GONE ON
1. I went down to my pea-patch To see if my ole hen had hatch. Ole hen hatch and tellin' of her dream, And de little chickens pickin' on de tambourine.
CHORUS: Brother Ephrum got de coon and gone on, and gone on, and gone on. Brother Ephrum got de coon and gone on And left me here behind.
2. I see a rabbit a-runnin' down de fiel'; I say, "Mister Rebbit, whar you gwine?" She say, "I ain't got no time for to fool wid you, Dar's a white man comin' on behind."
3. Marsa bought a yaller gal, He brought her right from de South, And de hayr on her head was wrop so tight Dat de sun shone in her mouth.
4. Lips jes' like a cherry, Cheeks jes' like a rose. How I loves dat yaller gal Lord Almighty knows!
5. I had a little banjo, De strings was made of twine, And de only tune dat I could play Was, I wish dat gal was mine!