Sugar in de Coffee-o
Sugar in de Coffee-o
Sugar in the Coffee-o
Nursery Rhyme
Nursery Rhyme
(Historical Black American English)
(English)
Sheep's in de meader a-mowin' o' de hay.
De honey's in de bee-gum*, so dey all say.
My head's up an' I'se boun' to go.
Who'll take sugar in de coffee-o?
I'se de prettiest liddle gal in de county-o.
My mammy an' daddy, dey bofe say so.
I looks in de glass, it don't say, "No";
So I'll take sugar in de coffee-o.
Sheep's in the meadow a-mowing the hay.
The honey's in the bee-hive*, so they all say.
My head's up and I'm bound to go.
Who'll take sugar in the coffee-o?
I'm the prettiest little gal in the county-o.
My mommy and daddy, they both say so.
I look in the glass, it don't say, "No";
So I'll take sugar in the coffee-o.
Notes
*A bee-gum is a bee-hive. Originally it was specifically a hive found in a hollow log or tree.
Comments
Roberta Perkins wrote:
"I am a re-enactor, banjo player; and historical/cultural enthusiast. I endeavor to find the African/African American sources of songs that interest me. I came across your site when I Googled 'provenance of Cluck Old Hen'. I also see two other songs that I have learned to play but the words are different from what I was given. 'Sugar in My Coffee' and 'Walkin' in the Parlor'---'Walkin' I play as a tune.
The words for 'Sugar in My Coffee' are:
How in the world do old folks know,
I like sugar in my coffee-o?
I'll tell you how they found out,
They saw sugar in the coffee spout.
I am enjoying seeing the African American origins for these tunes/songs..."
Thanks,
Roberta
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
This rhyme can be found in Negro Folk Rhymes, Wise and Otherwise, with a Study by Thomas W. Talley of Fisk University (1922).
Standard English version by Lisa Yannucci.
