“On de Chain Gang.”
“On de Chain Gang.”
Ike wus workin’ on de chain gangEbry day till set ob sun,Kaze he bin took up fo’ somethin’Dat he neber orter done.En he ketch de quick consumptionWorkin’ in de col’ en rain,En he say if dey des free himHe won’t do so bad agin.Den his white frien’s write a letterDat dey as’ us all ter sign,Sayin’: “Ike am weak en sickly,En he mus’ be treated kin’.”Sayin’: “He cain’t lib much longer,En we hope you let him comeBack ter dem dat am his people,So he pass away at home.”En we des keep waiting’, waitin’,Till a letter come at las’,Sayin’ dat de gov’nor gladHe kin grant us what we as’.When we carry Ike dat message,Ho don’t heah us what we say,Kaze de Lawd done come en call him,En his soul done pass away.
THE END