LIII
The next example is a type of many of the sings. It turns on a piece of local gossip. The “at last” is significant and points to Catherine being an old offender. The proffered sympathy is hardly sincere.
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Ho biddybye, biddybye
me yerry the talk biddybye,
say Cat’rine gone a prison
biddybye poor me Cat’rine oh biddybye
Cat’rine gone at last biddybye.
Here is the story in plain English, “deep English” as the Negro calls it, not understanding it well:—“Oh by the bye I hear a report that Catherine has gone to prison. My poor Catherine!”
(For “say” read “which says.” “Biddybye” is the bobbin.)