Juba
Juba is a sort of "dance" described as a "thigh slapping art form". It came from West Africa and was performed by African American slaves. It involves slapping various parts of the body - especially the hips, thighs, chest and arms - and also stomping. The noise of the slapping and stomping plays the role of percussion in the song, keeping the beat.
Juba
Juba
Call and Response Song
Call and Response Song
(Historical Black American English)
(English)
Juba dis and a Juba dat,
Juba gone skin* da yella cat.
We grow de corn
Dey give us de husk.
We bake de bread
Dey gib us de cruss.
We raise de meat
Dey give us de skin.
**Dat's how dey take
Us poor souls in.**
Juba dis and a Juba dat,
Juba gone skin da yella cat.
Juba this and a-Juba that,
Juba skinned the yellow cat.
We grow the corn
They give us the husk.
We bake the bread
They give us the crust.
We raise the meat
They give us the skin.
**That's how they take
Us poor souls in.**
Juba this and a-Juba that,
Juba skinned the yellow cat.
Notes
*or "killed" or "chased".
**or "And that's the way,
My mama's troubles begin."
***
Here's the version from the book "Negro Folk Rhymes" (1922) by Thomas W. Talley:
Expressions marked with an * are specific dance steps.
Juba dis, an' Juba dat,
Juba skin dat Yaller Cat*.
Juba! Juba!
Juba jump an' Juba sing.
Juba, cut dat Pigeon's Wing*.
Juba! Juba!
Juba, kick off Juba's shoe.
Juba, dance dat Jubal Jew*.
Juba! Juba!
Juba, whirl dat foot about.
Juba, blow dat candle out.
Juba! Juba!
Juba circle, raise de Latch*.
Juba do dat Long Dog Scratch*.
Juba! Juba!
Comments
There are many different versions of this song as you can see in the YouTubes below.
You can learn a short version of Juba here.
Thanks!
Juba this and Juba that,
Juba killed a yellow cat.
Bend over doubble trouble, Juba!
Ah, ha! Juba!
We bake the bread
And you give us the crust.
We beat the corn
And you give us the husk.
We cook the meat
And you give us the skin.
And that's when my mama's
Troubles begin.
I said, "Juba!"
(Repeat)
Thanks!
Juba this and Juba that,
Juba killed a yellow cat.
Get over double trouble, juba!
Juba! Juba! Juba! Juba!
Juba for ma,
And juba for pa,
And juba for your mother-law!
And just juba!
Juba! Juba! Juba! Juba!
Thanks!
