Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By HattieStarr

1469 Little Alabama Coon

I ’S a little Alabama Coon,

And I has n’t been born very long;

I ’member seein’ a great big round moon;

I ’member hearin’ one sweet song.

When dey tote me down to de cotton field,

Dar I roll and I tumble in de sun;

While my daddy pick de cotton, mammy watch me grow,

And dis am de song she sung:

Go to sleep, my little pickaninny,—

Brer’ Fox ’ll catch you if yo’ don’t;

Slumber on de bosom of yo’ ole Mammy Jinny,—

Mammy’s gwine to swat yo’ if you won’t.

Sh! sh! sh!

Lu-la, lu-la lu-la lu-la lu!

Underneaf de silver Southern moon;

Rock-a-by! hush-a-by!

Mammy’s little baby,

Mammy’s little Alabama Coon.

Dis hyar little Alabama Coon

Specks to be a growed-up man some day;

Dey ’s gwine to christen me hyar very soon,—

My name ’s gwine to be “Henry Clay.”

When I ’s big, I ’s gwine to wed a yellow gal;

Den we ’ll hab pickaninnies ob our own;

Den dat yellow gal shall rock ’em on her bosom,

And dis am de song she ’ll croon: