Lyrics:
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Jaybird Died of the Whooping Cough,
Squirrel died of the colic;
'Long come a red bird sittin' on a fence,
Call all the young girls to frolic.
Put that mule back under o' the shed,
Yonder comes the owner;
Stole his horse and bought me a mule,
And I ain't gonna pay no more.
Thomas Talley, in his book Negro Folk Rhymes (reprinted in 1991):
De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough,
De Sparrer died wid de colic;
'Long come de Red-bird, skippin' 'round,
Sayin': "Boys, git ready fer de Frolic!"
De Jaybird died wid de Whoopin' Cough,
De Bluebird died wid de Measles;
'Long come a Nigger wid a fiddle on his back,
'Vitin' Crows fer to dance wid de Weasels.
Dat Mockin'-bird , he romp an' sing,
Dat ole Gray Goose come prancin',
Dat Thrasher stuff his mouf wid plums,
Den he caper on down to de dancin'.
Dey hopped it low, an' dey hopped it high,
Dey hopped it to, an' dey hopped it by,
Dey hopped it fer, an' dey hopped it nigh,
Dat fiddle an' bow jes make 'em fly.
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