Uncle Ned

Cat. #0990 (MFH #668) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 7, 1969

VERSE 1
There was an old darkey,
His name was Uncle Ned
He died long ago, long ago
Had no wool on th top of his head
Th place where th wool oughter grow

VERSE 2
So hanged up your fiddle an' your bow
Lay down your shovel an' you hoe
No more work for poor ole Ned
Gone where th good darkies go

VERSE 3
His fingers was long
Like th cane in th break
He had no eyes for t' see
He had no teeth t' eat th cornbread
Cause he had t' let th cornbread be

VERSE 4
O, one cold morning
When ever thing was still
Th doctor stood around his bed
Not a thing was done, not a thing was said
For poor ole Ned was dead

VERSE 5
So, ole Ned died
The ole woman took it hard
Th tears run down like rain
She turned pale an' looked awful sad
For she'll never see ole Ned again

VERSE 6
Hang up your fiddle an' your bow
Lay down your shovel an' you hoe
No more work for poor ole Ned
Gone where th good darkies goes

Variants