Small Fred Letter From May Alice Jeffers
I'm an old woman typing Old as the year, seventy-eight Hear what I say I was born in Laurel, Mississippi, I live in North Carolina today With my grandson James. Now about the children I had five children before the Great Depression Five more since then. All of them are living now But the one that died in the war. All the rest had children, too. CHORUS: Don't blame the children Every girl, every boy, They ain't no burden, They're my pride and joy. I know they're beautiful Like leaves on a tree And as I am growing old They shelter me. I have worked at every kind of job Nursed people, preached, and sang When I was a young woman, I built roads I have not worked a job In nineteen years--my grandchildren Take care of me. Now listen to me Babies don't cause poverty 'Cause poverty Is just people never paid enough for what we done. You hear them talk--barefoot and Pregnant. But I been barefoot Pregnant or not. CHORUS I have known socialists They stayed in my home in 1964 For the vote drive They were like my children I don't care if they be black or white God bless you and all the socialists My first husband was a Methodist We did not drink but we did dance When we had our family picnic I think the white folks thought the colored Was taking over, there was so many, And the young men still ask me to dance. CHORUS
