“If I Had the Gov'ner”

Description

"If I had the gov'ner Where the gov'ner has me, Before daylight I'd set the gov'ner free. I begs you' gov'ner, Upon my soul: If you won't gimme a pardon, Won't you gimme a parole?"

Notes

Scarborough reports having gotten this from Texas governor Pat Neff, who heard it as the refrain of a song by a prisoner requesting help. I rather doubt this; it looks like a loose fragment of something else -- perhaps "Take This Hammer." But until something more definite emerges, it has to file separately. - RBW

References

  1. Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 31, (no title) (1 short text)
  2. BI, ScaNF031

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1925 (Scarborough)
Keywords: prisoner request pardon
Found in: US(So)