“Ain't No Use Workin' So Hard”
Description
"Ain't no use of my workin' so hard, darlin' (x2), I got a gal in the (rich/white) folks' yard, She kill me a chicken, She bring me the wing, Ain't I livin' on an easy thing..." "She thinks I'm workin', I'm layin' in bed...."
Notes
This is a floating fragment which often joins songs such as the "Talking Blues," "You Shall Be Free," and perhaps "Raise a Ruckus." But it's here because it apparently exists on its own also. - RBW
Yep -- see the Carolina Tar Heels' recording, for one example. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "Sugar Babe (III)" (lyrics)
- cf. "Mourner, You Shall Be Free (Moanish Lady)" (lyrics)
- cf. "Dat's All Right" (lyrics)
- cf. "Tell Old Bill" (structure, refrain)
- cf. "Cocaine (The Furniture Man)" (lyrics)
Recordings
- Carolina Tar Heels, "There Ain't No Use Working So Hard" (Victor 20544, 1927)
References
- Colcord, p. 185, "In De Mornin'" (1 short text, 1 tune)
- BrownIII 478, "You Shall Be Free" (1 text, with three verses of this plus one apparent floater and the "Oh, nigger, you shall be free" chorus)
- Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 235, "Ain't No Use O' My Workin' So Hard" (1 text, 1 tune; also as a floating verse in the song preceding this one; see also the fragment following) also p. 236, (no title) (1 fragment)
- Darling-NAS, pp. 328-329, "Ain't No Use Workin' So Hard" (1 text);
- BI, DarNS329