Hi my *rinktum! Black gal sweet, Same like goodies w'at do w'ito folks oat*; Ho my Riley! don't you tako'n tell 'or name, En den of sumpin' happen you won't ketch do blame; Hi my rinktum! bettor tako'n hide yo' plum; Joree* don't holler eve'y time he fine a wum. Den it's hi my rinktum! Don't git no udder man; En it's Ho my Riley! Fetch out Miss Dilsey Ann!
Ho my Riley! Yaller gal fine; She may be yone* but she oughter be mine! Hi my rinktum! Lemme git by, En see w'at she mean by de cut or dat eye! Ho my Riley! bettor shot dat do'- Do w'ite folks 'll *bloovo we or t'arin' up do flo',
Den it's ho my Riley! Come a siftin' up ter me! En it's Hi my rinktum! Dis do way tor twis' yo' knee!
Himy rinktum! Ain't do eas' gittin' red? Do squinch owl shiver like he wanter go ter bed; Ho my Riley! but do gals en do boys, Des now gittin' so doy kin sorter make a noise. Hi my rinktum! lot do yaller gal lone; Niggers don't hanker arter sody in do *pone. Den it's hi my rinktum! Better try anudder plan; An' its Ho my Riley! Trot out Miss Dilsey Ann!
Ho my Riley! In do happy Chrismus' time Do niggers shake der cloze a huntin' for a dime. Hi my rinktum! En dey shake der feet, En greaze derse'f wid de good ham meat. Ho my Riley! dey oat en dey cram, En *bimoby ole Miss'll be a sendin' out de *dram. Don it's Ho my Riley! You hear dat, Sam! En it's Hi my rinktum! Be a sendin' out do dram!
*Rinktum- In versions of Froggy Went A-Courting and other songs. See Rosy Rinktum Mary in the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection: Rosy Rinktum Mary *oat- eat. *joree- a bird (fowl?). Not uncommon first name in the South, also an old Georgia Cherokee name. *yone- yours. *bloovo- believe that (?). *bimoby- by-and -by. * pone- corn pone. *dram- draught of liquor. Not only was a "dram" given out at holidays, but if the work was very hard in the field, sometimes liquor was sent out. When a slave or hand did an all day task, such as haulage to town, when he came back the overseer or the master might order a dram for him.
Harris collected this Christmas play-song at the Myrick Place, Putnam Co., GA, in 1858. J. C. Harris, "Uncle Remus, Legends of the Old Plantation," 1881, song V.