The Earth Turns South/Debbil Foot

by Clement Richardson Wood

DEBBIL-FOOT

Ole Nigger John! Debbil-foot John!
Steal' ev'ything dat his han's got on!
Straw hats an' han'-saws an' things tuh eat,
Cow-feed an' hoss-feed an' shoes fuh his feet,
Grubbin'-hoes, suits er clo'es, an' all fuh fun—
Lock' 'um in his shack, whar he kep' his gun!
Folks come huntin' fuh de things dey miss'—
John he holler an' he shake his fis',
Shoot in de air er shoot in de groun'—
Scare all de niggers fuh miles erroun'!

Ole Nigger John wuz a voodoo coon—
Debbil he come in de dark uh de moon,
Come out er John's big swollen foot,
Whar John 'lowed dat he kep' him put.
Dar dey 'ud sit an' dey make er spell,
Wrassle an' holler, an' pray an' yell.
Nex' day John he scream an' he cuss—
Debbil-foot it get wuss an' wuss.

White doctor say dat de leg mus' go.
John he scream an' he take on so
Dey gin him sumpin ter make him sleep,
An' saw off de leg. . . . Ole Nigger John creep
Back tuh his wu'k, wid a "Thank 'ee, ma'am,"
"Mawnin', boss," an" "Howde-do!"
"Yes, suh," "Naw, suh," meck as a lamb. . . .
Dey bury dat leg, an' de debbil too—
Dey bury dem deep in grave-yahd groun',
Fifty foot down, fifty foot down!