Good Old Jeff "Tis just a year ago today that I remember well I sat down by poor Nelly's side and a story she did tell "Twas about a poor old darkey Jeff, that lived for many a year But now he's dead and in his grave, no trouble does he fear For good old Jeff had gone to rest We know that he is free Disturb him not, but let him rest Way down in Tennessee She took my arm, we walked along into an open field And then she paused to breathe a while, then to his grave did steal She sat down by that little mound and softly whispered there "Come to me, Father, 'tis thy child," and gently dropped a tear But since that time, how things are changed, poor Nell that was my bride Is laid beneath the cold clay sod, down by her father's side I planted there upon her grave a weeping willow tree I bathed its roots with many a tear that it might shelter me I knew a cheery child's song based on the chorus: The poor old slave had gone to rest I know that he is free His bones they lie, disturb them neigh Way down in Tennessee This then got increasingly decorated as: The poor, poor old slave, slave has gone, gone to rest, rest.. The pop poor old slop slave has gop gone to rop rest... The piggily poor old sliggily slave has giggily gone... SOF
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!