433. Broder Eton Got de Coon

433
Broder Eton Got de Coon

See White ANFS 223. and Steelv 216 (i935>- Dr. White adds:
"l' think the first two stanzas at least are of old minstrel origin.

From Julian P. Boyd, from Catherine Bennett, a pupil of the school at
Alliance, Pamlico county: undated, hut c. 1927-28.
^ This seems to be a mistake for "floor."

 

520 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE

1 De Lord made de wide world.
And den he made a whale.
And den he made a big raccoon,
Wid a ring around his tail.

Ciiorus:

Broder Eton got de coon !

(ione on, gone on, gone on,

Broder Eton got de coon.

Gone on, left me l)arkin' up a tree!

2 De Lord made a nigger.
He made 'im in de night.
He made 'im in a hurry.

And forgot to make 'ini white.

3 \\'hen I come to die, 1 want to be ready.
Lay me down, straighten my feet,

So I c'n git to heben
By de middle of de week.

4 If I had a needle.

As fine as I could sew,

I'd tack my sweetheart to my side.

And down de road we'd go.

--------------------
433

Broder Eton Got de Coon

'Brother Eben's Got a Coon.' Sung by Walter J. Miller, Trinity College,

Durham, 1919. The title is that given by the singer. The text varies from

that of the printed version. For a similar text cf. FSoA 122, 'Bro' Ephram.'

F-403

Chorus

 

Broth - er E - ben's got a coon, — And gone on, gone on.


Broth - er E - ben's got a coon, — And gone on, gone on.
Scale: Tetratonic (4). Tonal Center: g. Structure: abab^ (2,2,2,2) = aa^
(4,4). The tonal center is the lowest tone.