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Song Parodies -> "Black Folks Favorite Fruit"
Original Song Title:
"I Put a Spell on You"
(MP3)Original Performer:
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Parody Song Title:
"Black Folks Favorite Fruit"
Parody Written by:
Robert D. Arndt Jr.
The Lyrics
A while back I heard a slang word for watermelon by an interracial couple. They spoke of N-Berry and I inquired what it stood for; to my amazement and shock, it is slang for watermelon (aka Nigger Berry). I ask where that came from. Apparently, this is common in the South and the East, less so here on the West Coast. But it is urban slang for watermelon which contrary to popular myth was not originally slave food in the Antibellum South that came from Whites. Whites actually got it imported and fed it to the slaves on the Transatlantic journeys and then grown on plantations. Here is an explanation: Watermelon: Citrullus vulgaris, spread from Sudan to Egypt during the second millennium B.C.E. Now, it is distributed throughout the world. The transatlantic slave trade served as a major vehicle in transporting watermelon to the New World, where it remained a favorite among blacks and whites alike. Enslaved field hands often planted watermelon in the fields so they could enjoy them in July and August, the two hottest months of the year, while they hoed and picked cotton. And it is also the most favorite of Black fruits and among the top of Black foods which include fried chicken, corn bread, greens, etc... even modern Kool-Aid (especially Grape)! I did this silly parody based on that term. It is not in any way meant to be racist or stereotypical of any culture or ethnicity. It is firmly tongue-in-cheek funny and this commnet box is meant to educate on the subject to anyone that wants to learn about how myths get started.
Black folks favorite fruit
from slave times
White folk ate da nicest food
I ain’t lyin’
Luvs dat South’rn fryin’
You know I can’t stands it
Master runnin’ me ‘round
Sweatin’ in da heat badly
Watermelon done cooled me down!
Black folks favorite fruit
from slave times
Mighty fine (yes indeed)
We loves ya
We loves ya
We loves ya
Luvs dat sweet watermelon
And I aint carin’
For no cursin’ nor swearin’
There’s ‘nuf to pass along
Mmm… N-Berry
Black folks favorite fruit
from slave times
(Sweet as sweet can be)!!!
from slave times
White folk ate da nicest food
I ain’t lyin’
Luvs dat South’rn fryin’
You know I can’t stands it
Master runnin’ me ‘round
Sweatin’ in da heat badly
Watermelon done cooled me down!
Black folks favorite fruit
from slave times
Mighty fine (yes indeed)
We loves ya
We loves ya
We loves ya
Luvs dat sweet watermelon
And I aint carin’
For no cursin’ nor swearin’
There’s ‘nuf to pass along
Mmm… N-Berry
Black folks favorite fruit
from slave times
(Sweet as sweet can be)!!!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Rv84e63XRI/TgjB-bEtOqI/AAAAAAAAHtI/IDyQ3Rh9Ji0/s400/food%2Bwatermelon3.jpg Cite for Slavery Crops and Cusine: http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_es_cuisine.htm
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Voting Results
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Voting Breakdown
The following represent how many people voted for each category.
| Pacing | How Funny | Overall Rating | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||
| 5 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
User Comments
Comments are subject to review, and can be removed by the administration of the site at any time and for any reason.
While I haven't been the biggest fan of your work thanks to the frequent Nazi Germany themes and pacing being all over the place (sometimes decent, sometimes awful), this just pushes the envelope too far. Not even going to bother with voting on it...
I have a policy of not voting numerically. Oddly, this song works in terms of pacing and sound. I suspect this will get more comments than anything you've posted so far. I've never heard the N-Berry term in KC. But, I did eat some watermelon while attending an outdoor event in the summer heat last Saturday, and it was good.
Andria, I am sorry if this offended you, but it is historically accirate and you can look up N-Berry on a Google search. It is what it is. As for the song, SJH himself using similar language (I ain't lyin') and so do a wide range of artists that people find popular. I hope at least you know watermelon did NOT originate from the US.
I think Rob's point is really to inform us, true I've seen pacing mishaps in his songs, but I never and will never complain.... :-) What I think is, he paces us with his knowledge, not really with the song itself... But if I am wrong I apologize Rob! and btw, great parody! 555! :-)
Dear Sirs and Madame, I think it grossly unfair of you to judge Mr. Arndt based on this paroday of that horrible Hawkins song that I have personally hated all my life. I AM Black- not African-American (a hyphenate) or Colored, but BLACK and I find nothing offensive in Mr. Arndt's style or the subject matter. In fact, I keep a yellow pad handy to write down all the ways Mr. Arndt has renewed this bad song in the months that he writes. I have learned so many things from this man who is crushed by both the recession and a failing body. Things that I never knew and things that I would have never learned from anyone else under any other circumstance if not for the personal care I render to him a few times each week. I cannot speak for any others, but I actually look forward to what Mr. Arndt comes up with. As caretaker, he should not even be allowed on the Internet due to the meds he is on and weakness as well as any stress of any kind. But as he so fondly likes to tell me, "He is German and will do his will until the end." That is his right and I think he does a damn good job given his circumstances. People, I am Black and there is nothing controversial about this parody at all; hell, I grew up thinking watermelon (Yes- N-berry too) WAS American and turns out is from our glorious Africa. Thank you Mr. Arndt for that knowledge.
Wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for going off on you unfairly in my original comment... looking closer at the parody, it is actually not bad and as I hinted at on my parody that you replied to, my strong opinions on racial relations got the best of me. You are a font of knowledge on Third Reich and military history, and I appreciate having that point of view on the site even if it's not to everyone's liking. 4-4-5.
Hope you accept this apology, I admire your enthusiasm and tenacity, and I hope your remaining years here are as good as they can be.
Hope you accept this apology, I admire your enthusiasm and tenacity, and I hope your remaining years here are as good as they can be.
TY James and Andria. BTW Andria, you forgot to leave me the 445! As you can see I was 1-bombed and I don't think you did it. Having come from a NG I recognize that tactic of making it look that way!!! Probably a vet too as lurkers tend to strike at random, not systematic. They hit this parody and all the 3 SJH war parodies but left the other artist war parodies. WHY???
Still it is a bit over the top with the Uncle Remusy patois. (first time I have actually read one of yours, will continue to read). You might be sincere, but others might not feel that way. 545 from me.
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