Doubtin'

Tea Cake been gettin' teased by some ugly rough woman called Nunkie. She be playin' wit 'im an' flirtin' right hard wit 'im! It hurts mah heart. An' 'e came in de house tryna tell me dat 'e don't love huh none. Ah'm tryna believe 'im. 'E tole me Ah'ma kinda woman tah make a man forgit to git old an' die. An' Ah believ 'im now. Ah do. But Mis' Turner, some ole busy body woman down in de much wit us, tryna make me doubt 'im. Ah was afraid at first dat 'e would leave me but now Ah know Ah got tah trust mah Tea Cake. Tea Cake don't lak huh none anyway

Janie Mae Woods



Translation (in today's vernacular):

Tea Cake has been being teased by some ugly rough woman named Nunkie. She plays with him and is flirting very hard with him! It hurts my heart. And he came in the house trying to tell me he didn't love her at all. I'm trying to believe him. He told me I'm the kind of woman who makes a man forget to get old and die. And I believe him now. But Mrs. Turner, a nosy woman who lives in the much with us, is trying to make me doubt him. I was afraid at first that he would leave me but now I know I have to trust Tea Cake. Tea Cake doesn't like her at all anyway.

Janie Mae Woods