Jew's Garden- Majors (AR) 1959 Max Hunter
[From The Max Hunter Folksong Collection. Majors was a collector for Hunter and Parler.
R. Matteson 2013, 2015]
Jew's Garden- As sung by Fran Majors, Fayetteville, Arkansas on May 23, 1959; Max Hunter Collection
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0335
VERSE 1 It rained, it mist, it rained, it mist
It rained all over the town
The boys went out to throw their ball
To toss their ball one day, one day
One day to toss their ball
VERSE 2
The first was to high and the next to low
And into the Jews garden
Into the Jews garden, it rolled
Where no one would dare to go, to go
Where no one would dare to go
VERSE 3
The first that came out was the Jew's youngest daughter
All dressed in ribbons gay
She said, come in my little boy
And you shall have your ball, your ball
And you shall have your ball
VERSE 4
I won't come in, I shan't come in
I will not come in there
For if I was to come in there
I'd never get out any more, any more
I'd never get out any more
VERSE 5
The first she showed 'im, was a mellow apple
The next a finger ring.
The next a cherry, red as blood
To entice that little fellow in, oh in
To entice that little fellow in.
VERSE 6
She took him by the lily white hand
She led 'im through the hall
And in the corner laid him low
Where no one could hear him lament, lament
Where no one could hear him lament.
VERSE 7
Go bury my Bible at my head
My prayer book at my feet
And when my schoolmates calls for me
You tell 'em that I am asleep, o sleep
You tell 'em that I am sleep
VERSE 8
Go bury my prayer book at my feet
My Bible at my head
And when my schoolmates calls for me
You tell 'em that I am dead, o dead
You tell 'em that I am dead.