This is from Our Singing Country, by John and Alan Lomax
(MacMillan, 1941, pp 396-398)
LONG SUMMER DAY
A to Bb. No. 196. Clear Rock, Sugar Land and Taylor, Texas, 1933.
Me an my pardner an' my pardner's frien'
Can pick mo' cotton than a gin can gin.
Me an' my pardner can pick a bale,
Can pick mo' cotton than de scales can weigh.
Me an' my pardner an' two or three mo'
Can pick mo' cotton than a boat can hold.
LONG SUMMER DAY
Long summer day makes a white man lazy,
Long summer day,
Well, a long summer day makes a white man lazy,
Long summer day.
Well, a long summer day make a nigger run away, sir,
Long summer day,
Well, a long summer day‘ make a nigger run away, sir,
Long summer day.
Well, a-pickin’ that cotton in the bottom field, sir,
Long summer day,
Well, it’s gatherin’ up the cotton in the bottom field, sir,
Long summer day.
Well, he run away to see Miss Mary,
Long summer day,
Well, he run right away to see his baby,
Long summer day.
Well, the white man sont and got him a doctor, etc.
Well, “Go back to the field, you got no fever,” etc.
Well, the summer clay makes a nigger feel lazy, etc.
And here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry:Long Summer Day (I)
DESCRIPTION: "Long summer day make a white man lazy, long summer day" (x2). "Well, a long summer day make a nigger run away." "He run away to see miss Mary." He declares he is sick. The boss orders him back into the field.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1933 (collected from Moses "Clear Rock" Platt)
KEYWORDS: work hardtimes disease love
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Lomax/Lomax-OurSingingCountry, pp. 396-398, "Long Summer Day" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #15042
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