American Stuff
Work from the Federal Writers Project

Six Negro Market Songs of Harlem
Americana No. 6, Recorded by
Frank Byrd, New York, New York

1. THE STREET CHEF

Ah'm a natutal bo'n cook
An' dat ain't no lie,
Ah can fry po'k chops
An' bake a low-down pie
So step right up
An' he'p yo'se'f
Fum de vittles on
Mah kitchen she'f!

2. THE SORREL WOMAN

Sorrel! Oh, sorrel!
'e tehste lok Granny's wine,
Sorrel! Oh, sorrel!
'e sweet an' 'e too fine!

Sorrel! Oh, sorrel!
'e sure a 'trengh'nin' sting,
Sorrel! Oh, sorrel!
'e med to suit de king!

3. THE AH-GOT-UM MAN

Ah got pompanos!
Ah got catfish!
Ah got buffaloes!
Ah got um!
Ah got um!

Ah got stringbeans!
Ah got cabbage!
Ah got collard greens!
Ah got um!
Ah got um!

Ah got honeydews!
Ah got can'lopes!
Ah got watermelons!
Ah got um!
Ah got uml

Ah got fish,
Ah got fruits,
Ah got veg, yes 'ndeedl
Ah got any kind o' vittles,
Ah got anything yo' need!
Ah'm de Ah-Got-Um Man!

4. DE SWEET PERTATER MAN

See dese gread big sweet pertaters
Right chere by dis chicken's side,
Ah'm de one what bakes dese taters
Makes dem fit to suit yo' pride

Dere is taters an' mo' taters,
But de ones ah sells is fine
Yo' kin go fum hyeah to yondah
But yo' won't git none lak mine
'Cause Ah'm de tater mane
(Ah mean!)
De sweet pertater man!

5. THE CRAB MAN

Ho! Cra—ab man!
Ho! Cra—ab man!
Ho! Crabs, I say!

Fresh crabs! Hyeah!
Fresh crabs! Hyeah!
Fresh crabs, today!

6. THE PEPPER-SAUCE SONG
(West Indian Song Poem)

Make's no diff'ence what yo' eat
Whether rice or greens or meat
All de flavah sho am los'
'Less yo' got some pepper-sauce

When yo' pass by this-a way
Keep a lis'nin' fo' mah call
Pyo* Jamaica pepper-sauce!
Fresh red pepper-sauce!
Dat's all

*Pure