Morrison: They made dirt in the morning

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Marius Hancu - 14 Jan 2010 15:50 GMT

Hello:

Do you recognize this
"They made dirt in the morning and me that afternoon?"
Approximate meaning?

---
[Freddie's an old servant and messenger]

"How old are you, Freddie?"

"Who knows? They made dirt in the morning and me that afternoon." He
giggled. "But I been around a long long time."

"You born here?"

"Naw. Down south."

Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 109
---
--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 14 Jan 2010 15:53 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

It's a reference to the use of 'older than dirt' to mean 'very old'.
He's saying that he's not older than dirt, but he's very nearly that old
- he was born just after the dirt.

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Cheryl

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Marius Hancu - 14 Jan 2010 16:16 GMT

> > Do you recognize this
> > "They made dirt in the morning and me that afternoon?"
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> > "Naw. Down south."

> It's a reference to the use of 'older than dirt' to mean 'very old'.
> He's saying that he's not older than dirt, but he's very nearly that old
> - he was born just after the dirt.

Ah, I get it.

Thank you both.
Marius Hancu

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James Hogg - 14 Jan 2010 15:55 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> "Who knows? They made dirt in the morning and me that afternoon." He
> giggled. "But I been around a long long time."

I don't recognise it, but he's claiming to be so old that he was born on the
same day the earth was created.

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James

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

Morrison: They made dirt in the morning