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11 May 04 - 01:17 PM (#1183000) Subject: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: GUEST,rcutrer@attglobal.net I am looking for the author or more verses to the following short poem This was a rhyme that grandparents of a friend told her everytime they saw her. Rabbit up a gummy stump Coon in a holler A rattlesnake A june Bug Stole a half a dollar |
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11 May 04 - 01:55 PM (#1183028) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: GUEST,GLoux There's a traditional fiddle tune called Possum Up A Gum Stump that I've heard with words like this poem. Notes to a collection of Alabama fiddlers by the same name (PUAGS) say the tune "probably originated among black musicians on southern plantations and was spread across the country by blackface minstrels." I seem to have lost my cookie, so I'm a GUEST... -Greg |
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11 May 04 - 02:09 PM (#1183046) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: Q (Frank Staplin) There are bound to be steam dozen versions. Usually it is a possum up de gum stump, as noted above. Here is a version from Thomas W. Talley, "Negro Folk Rhymes." Lyr. Add: 'Possum Up the Gum Stump Possum up de gum stump, Dat raccoon in de holler; Twis' 'im out, an' git 'im down, An' I'll gin you a half a dollar. Possum up de gum stump, Yes, cooney in de holler; A pretty gal down my house Jes' as fat as she can waller. 'Possum up e gum stump, His jaws is black and dirty; To come and kiss you, pretty gal, He run like a goobler tucky. 'Possum up de gum stump, A good man's hard to fin'; You'd better love me, pretty gal, You'll git de yudder kin'. Talley says that there are many versions collected from both black and white sources. Collectors (Brown, Randolph, White, Lomaxes, Scarborough, etc. have published many verses. Floating verses often added or morphed. |
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11 May 04 - 02:12 PM (#1183050) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: MoorleyMan Greg's on the right track I think. There's a CD by Tom, Brad & Alice (Been There Still, if my memory serves me)containing the tune with the words sung - but no doubt there's plenty of Mudcat old-time enthusiasts with deeper knowledge than me who can inform you of other recordings! |
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11 May 04 - 02:49 PM (#1183090) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: Q (Frank Staplin) There actually was a recording, "Rabbit Up the Gum Stump," Victor V-40239, Hiter Colvin 1930 (also Monkey Ward 1939). See Traditional Ballad Index. First mention, Barrow, 1882. Collected with "Rabbit" from Alabama, 1915-1916. See N. I. White, "American Negro Folk Songs," 1928 (reprint 1965). |
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11 May 04 - 05:08 PM (#1183205) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: GLoux I have a reissue of the Hiter Colvin recording of Rabbit Up A Gum Stump and just listened to it. It is just a fiddle tune with no words. It is on Echoes of the Ozarks, Vol. 2, County CO-CD-3507. It seems related to the Possum Up A Gum Stump recording of Ralph Whited by Joyce Cauthen. Again, no words, but there's a really annoying harmonica mixed louder than the fiddle. I wonder who Tom, Brad & Alice's source was... -Greg |
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11 May 04 - 06:13 PM (#1183241) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: Q (Frank Staplin) The blackface minstrels used the tune in several dances and songs as mentioned above. "Opossum Up a Gum Tree"- Christy Minstrels, Nigga Songster, 1850. Opossum up a gum tree His tail has body follow Raccoon quickly him see, Looking out ob hollow., etc. "Black Shaker Song," n. d. (c. 1850), no author, broadside at American Memory- Possum up a gum tree, Cooney in de holler Show me de colored man Dat stole my dollar In "Zip Coon" - Banjo played, a dance. In American Memory: Cooney in de hollar Raccoon up a stump, etc. |
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11 May 04 - 09:21 PM (#1183370) Subject: RE: rabbit up a gummy stump poem or song? From: GUEST,Norm Roth Marjorie Main, the battle-axe actress of the 30's through 50's, sang "Possum up a gum stump . . . cooney up a holler" in a 1940's comedy. I think the movie revolved around a musical quiz show. |