Bangum and the Bo'- Stiles (TN) 1934 Niles C
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles. University Press of Kentucky, 1961. A rare African-American version -- although Scaborough first collected an African-American version from Virginia and published it in 1925 (See Davis F). Because Niles has recreated and changed ballads, his authentic ballads are suspect. Is this traditional? Seems like it but we just don't know. Kentucky was an active area of circulation.
R. Matteson 2014]
Bangum and the Bo'- Eddie Stiles, African-American version, (TN) 1934 Niles C
1. Bangum come out of de wood,
Bo' on he shoulder,
Bangum he was very young,
Dat Bo' was more older.
2. Pray, brother, brother pray,
I am sanctify,
Ask Ole Bangum whne I die,
Pray, brother, brother pray
3. Oh, white man he lef',
Ole Bangum he right.
Fourty-four when I fight
Pray, brother, brother pray.