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.

[Listen] [XML]

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.)