 Various versions of the song exist, though all focus on a (usually unnamed) black individual running away from, or to avoid, slave patrols (referred to as a "patter-rollers" or "patty-rollers" in the song).The "White's Serenaders' Song Book" version is presented as a narrative, with both sung and spoken parts.A slave, known as Mr. Bones, recounts the tale of his escape, interspersed with cries from the audience of "What, Mr.