MY SWEET BROWN GALW'en de clouds is hangin' heavy in de sky,An' de win's 's a-taihin' moughty vig'rous by,I don' go a-sighin' all erlong de way;I des' wo'k a-waitin' fu' de close o' day.Case I knows w'en evenin' draps huh shadders down,I won' care a smidgeon fu' de weathah's frown;Let de rain go splashin', let de thundah raih,Dey 's a happy sheltah, an' I 's goin' daih.Down in my ol' cabin wa'm ez mammy's toas','Taters in de fiah layin' daih to roas';No one daih to cross me, got no talkin' pal,But I 's got de comp'ny o' my sweet brown gal.So I spen's my evenin' listenin' to huh sing,Lak a blessid angel; how huh voice do ring!Sweetah den a bluebird flutterin' erroun',W'en he sees de steamin' o' de new ploughed groun'.Den I hugs huh closah, closah to my breas'.Need n't sing, my da'lin', tek you' hones' res'.Does I mean Malindy, Mandy, Lize er Sal?No, I means my fiddle-dat's my sweet brown gal!
W'en de clouds is hangin' heavy in de sky,An' de win's 's a-taihin' moughty vig'rous by,I don' go a-sighin' all erlong de way;I des' wo'k a-waitin' fu' de close o' day.
W'en de clouds is hangin' heavy in de sky,
An' de win's 's a-taihin' moughty vig'rous by,
I don' go a-sighin' all erlong de way;
I des' wo'k a-waitin' fu' de close o' day.
Case I knows w'en evenin' draps huh shadders down,I won' care a smidgeon fu' de weathah's frown;Let de rain go splashin', let de thundah raih,Dey 's a happy sheltah, an' I 's goin' daih.
Case I knows w'en evenin' draps huh shadders down,
I won' care a smidgeon fu' de weathah's frown;
Let de rain go splashin', let de thundah raih,
Dey 's a happy sheltah, an' I 's goin' daih.
Down in my ol' cabin wa'm ez mammy's toas','Taters in de fiah layin' daih to roas';No one daih to cross me, got no talkin' pal,But I 's got de comp'ny o' my sweet brown gal.
Down in my ol' cabin wa'm ez mammy's toas',
'Taters in de fiah layin' daih to roas';
No one daih to cross me, got no talkin' pal,
But I 's got de comp'ny o' my sweet brown gal.
So I spen's my evenin' listenin' to huh sing,Lak a blessid angel; how huh voice do ring!Sweetah den a bluebird flutterin' erroun',W'en he sees de steamin' o' de new ploughed groun'.
So I spen's my evenin' listenin' to huh sing,
Lak a blessid angel; how huh voice do ring!
Sweetah den a bluebird flutterin' erroun',
W'en he sees de steamin' o' de new ploughed groun'.
Den I hugs huh closah, closah to my breas'.Need n't sing, my da'lin', tek you' hones' res'.Does I mean Malindy, Mandy, Lize er Sal?No, I means my fiddle-dat's my sweet brown gal!
Den I hugs huh closah, closah to my breas'.
Need n't sing, my da'lin', tek you' hones' res'.
Does I mean Malindy, Mandy, Lize er Sal?
No, I means my fiddle-dat's my sweet brown gal!
SPRING FEVERGrass commence a-comin'Thoo de thawin' groun',Evah bird dat whistlesKeepin' noise erroun';Cain't sleep in de mo'nin',Case befo' it 's lightBluebird an' de robin,Done begun to fight.Bluebird sass de robin,Robin sass him back,Den de bluebird scol' him'Twell his face is black.Would n' min' de quoilin'All de mo'nin' long,'Cept it wakes me early,Case hit 's done in song.Anybody wo'kin'Wants to sleep ez lateEz de folks 'll 'low him,An' I wish to state(Co'se dis ain't to scattah,But 'twix' me an' you),I could stan' de bedclothes,Kin' o' latah, too.'T ain't my natchul feelin',Dis hyeah mopin' spell.I stan's early risin'Mos'ly moughty well;But de ve'y minute,I feel Ap'il's heat,Bless yo' soul, de bedclothesNevah seemed so sweet.Mastah, he's a-scol'in',Case de han's is slow,All de hosses balkin',Jes' cain't mek 'em go.Don' know whut's de mattah,Hit's a funny t'ing,Less'n hit 's de fevahDat you gits in spring.
Grass commence a-comin'Thoo de thawin' groun',Evah bird dat whistlesKeepin' noise erroun';Cain't sleep in de mo'nin',Case befo' it 's lightBluebird an' de robin,Done begun to fight.
Grass commence a-comin'
Thoo de thawin' groun',
Evah bird dat whistles
Keepin' noise erroun';
Cain't sleep in de mo'nin',
Case befo' it 's light
Bluebird an' de robin,
Done begun to fight.
Bluebird sass de robin,Robin sass him back,Den de bluebird scol' him'Twell his face is black.Would n' min' de quoilin'All de mo'nin' long,'Cept it wakes me early,Case hit 's done in song.
Bluebird sass de robin,
Robin sass him back,
Den de bluebird scol' him
'Twell his face is black.
Would n' min' de quoilin'
All de mo'nin' long,
'Cept it wakes me early,
Case hit 's done in song.
Anybody wo'kin'Wants to sleep ez lateEz de folks 'll 'low him,An' I wish to state(Co'se dis ain't to scattah,But 'twix' me an' you),I could stan' de bedclothes,Kin' o' latah, too.
Anybody wo'kin'
Wants to sleep ez late
Ez de folks 'll 'low him,
An' I wish to state
(Co'se dis ain't to scattah,
But 'twix' me an' you),
I could stan' de bedclothes,
Kin' o' latah, too.
'T ain't my natchul feelin',Dis hyeah mopin' spell.I stan's early risin'Mos'ly moughty well;But de ve'y minute,I feel Ap'il's heat,Bless yo' soul, de bedclothesNevah seemed so sweet.
'T ain't my natchul feelin',
Dis hyeah mopin' spell.
I stan's early risin'
Mos'ly moughty well;
But de ve'y minute,
I feel Ap'il's heat,
Bless yo' soul, de bedclothes
Nevah seemed so sweet.
Mastah, he's a-scol'in',Case de han's is slow,All de hosses balkin',Jes' cain't mek 'em go.Don' know whut's de mattah,Hit's a funny t'ing,Less'n hit 's de fevahDat you gits in spring.
Mastah, he's a-scol'in',
Case de han's is slow,
All de hosses balkin',
Jes' cain't mek 'em go.
Don' know whut's de mattah,
Hit's a funny t'ing,
Less'n hit 's de fevah
Dat you gits in spring.
THE VISITORLittle lady at de do',W'y you stan' dey knockin'?Nevah seen you ac' befo'In er way so shockin'.Don' you know de sin it isFu' to git my temper rizWen I 's got de rheumatizAn' my jints is lockin'?No, ol' Miss ain't sont you down,Don' you tell no story;I been seed you hangin' 'roun'Dis hyeah te'itory.You des come fu' me to tellYou a tale, an' I ain'—well—Look hyeah, what is dat I smell?Steamin' victuals? Glory!Come in, Missy, how you do?Come up by de fiah,I was jokin', chile, wid you;Bring dat basket nighah.Huh uh, ain't dat lak ol' Miss,Sen'in' me a feas' lak dis?Rheumatiz cain't stop my bliss,Case I's feelin' spryah.Chicken meat an' gravy, too,Hot an' still a-heatin';Good ol' sweet pertater stew;Missy b'lieves in treatin'.Des set down, you blessed chile,Daddy got to t'ink a while,Den a story mek you smileWen he git thoo eatin'.
Little lady at de do',W'y you stan' dey knockin'?Nevah seen you ac' befo'In er way so shockin'.Don' you know de sin it isFu' to git my temper rizWen I 's got de rheumatizAn' my jints is lockin'?
Little lady at de do',
W'y you stan' dey knockin'?
Nevah seen you ac' befo'
In er way so shockin'.
Don' you know de sin it is
Fu' to git my temper riz
Wen I 's got de rheumatiz
An' my jints is lockin'?
No, ol' Miss ain't sont you down,Don' you tell no story;I been seed you hangin' 'roun'Dis hyeah te'itory.You des come fu' me to tellYou a tale, an' I ain'—well—Look hyeah, what is dat I smell?Steamin' victuals? Glory!
No, ol' Miss ain't sont you down,
Don' you tell no story;
I been seed you hangin' 'roun'
Dis hyeah te'itory.
You des come fu' me to tell
You a tale, an' I ain'—well—
Look hyeah, what is dat I smell?
Steamin' victuals? Glory!
Come in, Missy, how you do?Come up by de fiah,I was jokin', chile, wid you;Bring dat basket nighah.Huh uh, ain't dat lak ol' Miss,Sen'in' me a feas' lak dis?Rheumatiz cain't stop my bliss,Case I's feelin' spryah.
Come in, Missy, how you do?
Come up by de fiah,
I was jokin', chile, wid you;
Bring dat basket nighah.
Huh uh, ain't dat lak ol' Miss,
Sen'in' me a feas' lak dis?
Rheumatiz cain't stop my bliss,
Case I's feelin' spryah.
Chicken meat an' gravy, too,Hot an' still a-heatin';Good ol' sweet pertater stew;Missy b'lieves in treatin'.Des set down, you blessed chile,Daddy got to t'ink a while,Den a story mek you smileWen he git thoo eatin'.
Chicken meat an' gravy, too,
Hot an' still a-heatin';
Good ol' sweet pertater stew;
Missy b'lieves in treatin'.
Des set down, you blessed chile,
Daddy got to t'ink a while,
Den a story mek you smile
Wen he git thoo eatin'.
SONGWintah, summah, snow er shine,Hit's all de same to me,Ef only I kin call you mine,An' keep you by my knee.Ha'dship, frolic, grief er caih,Content by night an' day,Ef only I kin see you whaihYou wait beside de way.Livin', dyin', smiles er teahs,My soul will still be free,Ef only thoo de comin' yeahsYou walk de worl' wid me.Bird-song, breeze-wail, chune er moan,What puny t'ings dey 'll be,Ef w'en I 's seemin' all erlone,I knows yo' hea't 's wid me.
Wintah, summah, snow er shine,Hit's all de same to me,Ef only I kin call you mine,An' keep you by my knee.
Wintah, summah, snow er shine,
Hit's all de same to me,
Ef only I kin call you mine,
An' keep you by my knee.
Ha'dship, frolic, grief er caih,Content by night an' day,Ef only I kin see you whaihYou wait beside de way.
Ha'dship, frolic, grief er caih,
Content by night an' day,
Ef only I kin see you whaih
You wait beside de way.
Livin', dyin', smiles er teahs,My soul will still be free,Ef only thoo de comin' yeahsYou walk de worl' wid me.
Livin', dyin', smiles er teahs,
My soul will still be free,
Ef only thoo de comin' yeahs
You walk de worl' wid me.
Bird-song, breeze-wail, chune er moan,What puny t'ings dey 'll be,Ef w'en I 's seemin' all erlone,I knows yo' hea't 's wid me.
Bird-song, breeze-wail, chune er moan,
What puny t'ings dey 'll be,
Ef w'en I 's seemin' all erlone,
I knows yo' hea't 's wid me.
THE COLORED BANDWen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street,Don't you people stan' daih starin'; lif yo' feet!Ain't dey playin'? Hip, hooray!Stir yo' stumps an' cleah de way,Fu' de music dat dey mekin' can't be beat.Oh, de major man's a-swingin' of his stick,An' de pickaninnies crowdin' roun' him thick;In his go'geous uniform,He 's de lightnin' of de sto'm,An' de little clouds erroun' look mighty slick.You kin hyeah a fine perfo'mance w'en de white ban's serenade,An' dey play dey high-toned music mighty sweet,But hit 's Sousa played in ragtime, an' hit 's Rastus on Parade,Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street.Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de streetYou kin hyeah de ladies all erroun' repeat:"Ain't dey handsome? Ain't dey gran'?Ain't dey splendid? Goodness, lan'!Wy dey's pu'fect f'om dey fo'heads to dey feet!"An' sich steppin' to de music down de line,'T ain't de music by itself dat meks it fine,Hit's de walkin', step by step,An' de keepin' time wid "Hep,"Dat it mek a common ditty soun' divine.Oh, de white ban' play hits music, an' hit 's mighty good to hyeah,An' it sometimes leaves a ticklin' in yo' feet;But de hea't goes into bus'ness fu' to he'p erlong de eah,Wen de colo'ed ban' goes ma'chin' down de street.
Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street,Don't you people stan' daih starin'; lif yo' feet!Ain't dey playin'? Hip, hooray!Stir yo' stumps an' cleah de way,Fu' de music dat dey mekin' can't be beat.
Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street,
Don't you people stan' daih starin'; lif yo' feet!
Ain't dey playin'? Hip, hooray!
Stir yo' stumps an' cleah de way,
Fu' de music dat dey mekin' can't be beat.
Oh, de major man's a-swingin' of his stick,An' de pickaninnies crowdin' roun' him thick;In his go'geous uniform,He 's de lightnin' of de sto'm,An' de little clouds erroun' look mighty slick.
Oh, de major man's a-swingin' of his stick,
An' de pickaninnies crowdin' roun' him thick;
In his go'geous uniform,
He 's de lightnin' of de sto'm,
An' de little clouds erroun' look mighty slick.
You kin hyeah a fine perfo'mance w'en de white ban's serenade,An' dey play dey high-toned music mighty sweet,But hit 's Sousa played in ragtime, an' hit 's Rastus on Parade,Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street.
You kin hyeah a fine perfo'mance w'en de white ban's serenade,
An' dey play dey high-toned music mighty sweet,
But hit 's Sousa played in ragtime, an' hit 's Rastus on Parade,
Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street.
Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de streetYou kin hyeah de ladies all erroun' repeat:"Ain't dey handsome? Ain't dey gran'?Ain't dey splendid? Goodness, lan'!Wy dey's pu'fect f'om dey fo'heads to dey feet!"An' sich steppin' to de music down de line,'T ain't de music by itself dat meks it fine,Hit's de walkin', step by step,An' de keepin' time wid "Hep,"Dat it mek a common ditty soun' divine.
Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' down de street
You kin hyeah de ladies all erroun' repeat:
"Ain't dey handsome? Ain't dey gran'?
Ain't dey splendid? Goodness, lan'!
Wy dey's pu'fect f'om dey fo'heads to dey feet!"
An' sich steppin' to de music down de line,
'T ain't de music by itself dat meks it fine,
Hit's de walkin', step by step,
An' de keepin' time wid "Hep,"
Dat it mek a common ditty soun' divine.
Oh, de white ban' play hits music, an' hit 's mighty good to hyeah,An' it sometimes leaves a ticklin' in yo' feet;But de hea't goes into bus'ness fu' to he'p erlong de eah,Wen de colo'ed ban' goes ma'chin' down de street.
Oh, de white ban' play hits music, an' hit 's mighty good to hyeah,
An' it sometimes leaves a ticklin' in yo' feet;
But de hea't goes into bus'ness fu' to he'p erlong de eah,
Wen de colo'ed ban' goes ma'chin' down de street.
TO A VIOLET FOUND ON ALL SAINTS' DAYBelated wanderer of the ways of spring,Lost in the chill of grim November rain,Would I could read the message that you bringAnd find in it the antidote for pain.Does some sad spirit out beyond the day,Far looking to the hours forever dead,Send you a tender offering to layUpon the grave of us, the living dead?Or does some brighter spirit, unforlorn,Send you, my little sister of the wood,To say to some one on a cloudful morn,"Life lives through death, my brother, all is good?"With meditative hearts the others goThe memory of their dead to dress anew.But, sister mine, bide here that I may know,Life grows, through death, as beautiful as you.
Belated wanderer of the ways of spring,Lost in the chill of grim November rain,Would I could read the message that you bringAnd find in it the antidote for pain.
Belated wanderer of the ways of spring,
Lost in the chill of grim November rain,
Would I could read the message that you bring
And find in it the antidote for pain.
Does some sad spirit out beyond the day,Far looking to the hours forever dead,Send you a tender offering to layUpon the grave of us, the living dead?
Does some sad spirit out beyond the day,
Far looking to the hours forever dead,
Send you a tender offering to lay
Upon the grave of us, the living dead?
Or does some brighter spirit, unforlorn,Send you, my little sister of the wood,To say to some one on a cloudful morn,"Life lives through death, my brother, all is good?"
Or does some brighter spirit, unforlorn,
Send you, my little sister of the wood,
To say to some one on a cloudful morn,
"Life lives through death, my brother, all is good?"
With meditative hearts the others goThe memory of their dead to dress anew.But, sister mine, bide here that I may know,Life grows, through death, as beautiful as you.
With meditative hearts the others go
The memory of their dead to dress anew.
But, sister mine, bide here that I may know,
Life grows, through death, as beautiful as you.
INSPIRATIONAt the golden gate of songStood I, knocking all day long,But the Angel, calm and cold,Still refused and bade me, "Hold."Then a breath of soft perfume,Then a light within the gloom;Thou, Love, camest to my side,And the gates flew open wide.Long I dwelt in this domain,Knew no sorrow, grief, or pain;Now you bid me forth and free,Will you shut these gates on me?
At the golden gate of songStood I, knocking all day long,But the Angel, calm and cold,Still refused and bade me, "Hold."
At the golden gate of song
Stood I, knocking all day long,
But the Angel, calm and cold,
Still refused and bade me, "Hold."
Then a breath of soft perfume,Then a light within the gloom;Thou, Love, camest to my side,And the gates flew open wide.
Then a breath of soft perfume,
Then a light within the gloom;
Thou, Love, camest to my side,
And the gates flew open wide.
Long I dwelt in this domain,Knew no sorrow, grief, or pain;Now you bid me forth and free,Will you shut these gates on me?
Long I dwelt in this domain,
Knew no sorrow, grief, or pain;
Now you bid me forth and free,
Will you shut these gates on me?
MY LADY OF CASTLE GRANDGray is the palace where she dwells,Grimly the poplars standThere by the window where she sits,My Lady of Castle Grand.There does she bide the livelong day,Grim as the poplars are,Ever her gaze goes reaching out,Steady, but vague and far.Bright burn the fires in the castle hall,Brightly the fire-dogs stand;But cold is the body and cold the heartOf my Lady of Castle Grand.Blue are the veins in her lily-white hands,Blue are the veins in her brow;Thin is the line of her blue drawn lips,Who would be haughty now?Pale is the face at the window-pane,Pale as the pearl on her breast,"Roderick, love, wilt come again?Fares he to east or west?"The shepherd pipes to the shepherdess,The bird to his mate in the tree,And ever she sighs as she hears their song,"Nobody sings for me."The scullery maids have swains enowWho lead them the way of love,But lonely and loveless their mistress sitsAt her window up above.Loveless and lonely she waits and waits,The saddest in all the land;Ah, cruel and lasting is love-blind pride,My Lady of Castle Grand.
Gray is the palace where she dwells,Grimly the poplars standThere by the window where she sits,My Lady of Castle Grand.
Gray is the palace where she dwells,
Grimly the poplars stand
There by the window where she sits,
My Lady of Castle Grand.
There does she bide the livelong day,Grim as the poplars are,Ever her gaze goes reaching out,Steady, but vague and far.
There does she bide the livelong day,
Grim as the poplars are,
Ever her gaze goes reaching out,
Steady, but vague and far.
Bright burn the fires in the castle hall,Brightly the fire-dogs stand;But cold is the body and cold the heartOf my Lady of Castle Grand.
Bright burn the fires in the castle hall,
Brightly the fire-dogs stand;
But cold is the body and cold the heart
Of my Lady of Castle Grand.
Blue are the veins in her lily-white hands,Blue are the veins in her brow;Thin is the line of her blue drawn lips,Who would be haughty now?
Blue are the veins in her lily-white hands,
Blue are the veins in her brow;
Thin is the line of her blue drawn lips,
Who would be haughty now?
Pale is the face at the window-pane,Pale as the pearl on her breast,"Roderick, love, wilt come again?Fares he to east or west?"
Pale is the face at the window-pane,
Pale as the pearl on her breast,
"Roderick, love, wilt come again?
Fares he to east or west?"
The shepherd pipes to the shepherdess,The bird to his mate in the tree,And ever she sighs as she hears their song,"Nobody sings for me."
The shepherd pipes to the shepherdess,
The bird to his mate in the tree,
And ever she sighs as she hears their song,
"Nobody sings for me."
The scullery maids have swains enowWho lead them the way of love,But lonely and loveless their mistress sitsAt her window up above.
The scullery maids have swains enow
Who lead them the way of love,
But lonely and loveless their mistress sits
At her window up above.
Loveless and lonely she waits and waits,The saddest in all the land;Ah, cruel and lasting is love-blind pride,My Lady of Castle Grand.
Loveless and lonely she waits and waits,
The saddest in all the land;
Ah, cruel and lasting is love-blind pride,
My Lady of Castle Grand.
DRIZZLEHit 's been drizzlin' an' been sprinklin',Kin' o' techy all day long.I ain't wet enough fu' toddy,I 's too damp to raise a song,An' de case have set me t'inkin',Dat dey 's folk des lak de rain,Dat goes drizzlin' w'en dey's talkin',An' won't speak out flat an' plain.Ain't you nevah set an' listenedAt a body 'splain his min'?W'en de t'oughts dey keep on drappin'Was n't big enough to fin'?Dem 's whut I call drizzlin' people,Othahs call 'em mealy mouf,But de fust name hits me bettah,Case dey nevah tech a drouf.Dey kin talk from hyeah to yandah,An' f'om yandah hyeah ergain,An' dey don' mek no mo' 'pression,Den dis powd'ry kin' o' rain.En yo' min' is dry ez cindahs,Er a piece o' kindlin' wood,'T ain't no use a-talkin' to 'em,Fu' dey drizzle ain't no good.Gimme folks dat speak out nachul,Whut 'll say des whut dey mean,Whut don't set dey wo'ds so skimpyDat you got to guess between.I want talk des' lak de showahsWhut kin wash de dust erway,Not dat sprinklin' convusation,Dat des drizzle all de day.
Hit 's been drizzlin' an' been sprinklin',Kin' o' techy all day long.I ain't wet enough fu' toddy,I 's too damp to raise a song,An' de case have set me t'inkin',Dat dey 's folk des lak de rain,Dat goes drizzlin' w'en dey's talkin',An' won't speak out flat an' plain.
Hit 's been drizzlin' an' been sprinklin',
Kin' o' techy all day long.
I ain't wet enough fu' toddy,
I 's too damp to raise a song,
An' de case have set me t'inkin',
Dat dey 's folk des lak de rain,
Dat goes drizzlin' w'en dey's talkin',
An' won't speak out flat an' plain.
Ain't you nevah set an' listenedAt a body 'splain his min'?W'en de t'oughts dey keep on drappin'Was n't big enough to fin'?Dem 's whut I call drizzlin' people,Othahs call 'em mealy mouf,But de fust name hits me bettah,Case dey nevah tech a drouf.
Ain't you nevah set an' listened
At a body 'splain his min'?
W'en de t'oughts dey keep on drappin'
Was n't big enough to fin'?
Dem 's whut I call drizzlin' people,
Othahs call 'em mealy mouf,
But de fust name hits me bettah,
Case dey nevah tech a drouf.
Dey kin talk from hyeah to yandah,An' f'om yandah hyeah ergain,An' dey don' mek no mo' 'pression,Den dis powd'ry kin' o' rain.En yo' min' is dry ez cindahs,Er a piece o' kindlin' wood,'T ain't no use a-talkin' to 'em,Fu' dey drizzle ain't no good.
Dey kin talk from hyeah to yandah,
An' f'om yandah hyeah ergain,
An' dey don' mek no mo' 'pression,
Den dis powd'ry kin' o' rain.
En yo' min' is dry ez cindahs,
Er a piece o' kindlin' wood,
'T ain't no use a-talkin' to 'em,
Fu' dey drizzle ain't no good.
Gimme folks dat speak out nachul,Whut 'll say des whut dey mean,Whut don't set dey wo'ds so skimpyDat you got to guess between.I want talk des' lak de showahsWhut kin wash de dust erway,Not dat sprinklin' convusation,Dat des drizzle all de day.
Gimme folks dat speak out nachul,
Whut 'll say des whut dey mean,
Whut don't set dey wo'ds so skimpy
Dat you got to guess between.
I want talk des' lak de showahs
Whut kin wash de dust erway,
Not dat sprinklin' convusation,
Dat des drizzle all de day.
DE CRITTERS' DANCEAin't nobody nevah tol' you not a wo'd a-tall,'Bout de time dat all de critters gin dey fancy ball?Some folks tell it in a sto'y, some folks sing de rhyme,'Peahs to me you ought to hyeahed it, case hit 's ol' ez time.Well, de critters all was p'osp'ous, now would be de chanceFu' to tease ol' Pa'son Hedgehog, givin' of a dance;Case, you know, de critters' preachah was de stric'est kin',An' he nevah made no 'lowance fu' de frisky min'.So dey sont dey inbitations, Raccoon writ 'em all,"Dis hyeah note is to inbite you to de Fancy Ball;Come erlong an' bring yo' ladies, bring yo' chillun too,Put on all yo' bibs an' tuckahs, show whut you kin do."W'en de night come, dey all gathahed in a place dey knowed,Fu' enough erway f'om people, nigh enough de road,All de critters had ersponded, Hop-Toad up to Baih,An' I 's hyeah to tell you, Pa'son Hedgehog too, was daih.Well, dey talked an' made dey 'bejunce, des lak critters do,An' dey walked an' p'omenaded 'roun' an' thoo an' thoo;Jealous ol' Mis' Fox, she whispah, "See Mis' Wildcat daih,Ain't hit scan'lous, huh a-comin' wid huh shouldahs baih?"Ol' man T'utle was n't honin' fu' no dancin' tricks,So he stayed by ol' Mis' Tu'tle, talkin' politics;Den de ban' hit 'mence a-playin' critters all to place,Fou' ercross an' fou' stan' sideways, smilin' face to face.'Fessah Frog, he play de co'net, Cricket play de fife,Slews o' Grasshoppahs a-fiddlin' lak to save dey life;Mistah Crow, 'he call de figgers, settin' in a tree,Huh, uh! how dose critters sasshayed was a sight to see.Mistah Possom swing Mis' Rabbit up an' down de flo',Ol' man Baih, he ain't so nimble, an' it mek him blow;Raccoon dancin' wid Mis' Squ'il squeeze huh little han',She say, "Oh, now ain't you awful, quit it, goodness lan'!"Pa'son Hedgehog groanin' awful at his converts' shines,'Dough he peepin' thoo his fingahs at dem movin' lines,'Twell he cain't set still no longah w'en de fiddles sing,Up he jump, an' bless you, honey, cut de pigeon-wing.Well, de critters lak to fainted jes' wid dey su'prise.Sistah Fox, she vowed she was n't gwine to b'lieve huh eyes;But dey could n't be no 'sputin' 'bout it any mo':Pa'son Hedgehog was a-cape'in' all erroun' de flo.'Den dey all jes' capahed scan'lous case dey did n't doubt,Dat dey still could go to meetin'; who could tu'n 'em out?So wid dancin' an' uligion, dey was in de fol',Fu' a-dancin' wid de Pa'son couldn't hu't de soul.
Ain't nobody nevah tol' you not a wo'd a-tall,'Bout de time dat all de critters gin dey fancy ball?Some folks tell it in a sto'y, some folks sing de rhyme,'Peahs to me you ought to hyeahed it, case hit 's ol' ez time.
Ain't nobody nevah tol' you not a wo'd a-tall,
'Bout de time dat all de critters gin dey fancy ball?
Some folks tell it in a sto'y, some folks sing de rhyme,
'Peahs to me you ought to hyeahed it, case hit 's ol' ez time.
Well, de critters all was p'osp'ous, now would be de chanceFu' to tease ol' Pa'son Hedgehog, givin' of a dance;Case, you know, de critters' preachah was de stric'est kin',An' he nevah made no 'lowance fu' de frisky min'.
Well, de critters all was p'osp'ous, now would be de chance
Fu' to tease ol' Pa'son Hedgehog, givin' of a dance;
Case, you know, de critters' preachah was de stric'est kin',
An' he nevah made no 'lowance fu' de frisky min'.
So dey sont dey inbitations, Raccoon writ 'em all,"Dis hyeah note is to inbite you to de Fancy Ball;Come erlong an' bring yo' ladies, bring yo' chillun too,Put on all yo' bibs an' tuckahs, show whut you kin do."
So dey sont dey inbitations, Raccoon writ 'em all,
"Dis hyeah note is to inbite you to de Fancy Ball;
Come erlong an' bring yo' ladies, bring yo' chillun too,
Put on all yo' bibs an' tuckahs, show whut you kin do."
W'en de night come, dey all gathahed in a place dey knowed,Fu' enough erway f'om people, nigh enough de road,All de critters had ersponded, Hop-Toad up to Baih,An' I 's hyeah to tell you, Pa'son Hedgehog too, was daih.
W'en de night come, dey all gathahed in a place dey knowed,
Fu' enough erway f'om people, nigh enough de road,
All de critters had ersponded, Hop-Toad up to Baih,
An' I 's hyeah to tell you, Pa'son Hedgehog too, was daih.
Well, dey talked an' made dey 'bejunce, des lak critters do,An' dey walked an' p'omenaded 'roun' an' thoo an' thoo;Jealous ol' Mis' Fox, she whispah, "See Mis' Wildcat daih,Ain't hit scan'lous, huh a-comin' wid huh shouldahs baih?"
Well, dey talked an' made dey 'bejunce, des lak critters do,
An' dey walked an' p'omenaded 'roun' an' thoo an' thoo;
Jealous ol' Mis' Fox, she whispah, "See Mis' Wildcat daih,
Ain't hit scan'lous, huh a-comin' wid huh shouldahs baih?"
Ol' man T'utle was n't honin' fu' no dancin' tricks,So he stayed by ol' Mis' Tu'tle, talkin' politics;Den de ban' hit 'mence a-playin' critters all to place,Fou' ercross an' fou' stan' sideways, smilin' face to face.
Ol' man T'utle was n't honin' fu' no dancin' tricks,
So he stayed by ol' Mis' Tu'tle, talkin' politics;
Den de ban' hit 'mence a-playin' critters all to place,
Fou' ercross an' fou' stan' sideways, smilin' face to face.
'Fessah Frog, he play de co'net, Cricket play de fife,Slews o' Grasshoppahs a-fiddlin' lak to save dey life;Mistah Crow, 'he call de figgers, settin' in a tree,Huh, uh! how dose critters sasshayed was a sight to see.
'Fessah Frog, he play de co'net, Cricket play de fife,
Slews o' Grasshoppahs a-fiddlin' lak to save dey life;
Mistah Crow, 'he call de figgers, settin' in a tree,
Huh, uh! how dose critters sasshayed was a sight to see.
Mistah Possom swing Mis' Rabbit up an' down de flo',Ol' man Baih, he ain't so nimble, an' it mek him blow;Raccoon dancin' wid Mis' Squ'il squeeze huh little han',She say, "Oh, now ain't you awful, quit it, goodness lan'!"
Mistah Possom swing Mis' Rabbit up an' down de flo',
Ol' man Baih, he ain't so nimble, an' it mek him blow;
Raccoon dancin' wid Mis' Squ'il squeeze huh little han',
She say, "Oh, now ain't you awful, quit it, goodness lan'!"
Pa'son Hedgehog groanin' awful at his converts' shines,'Dough he peepin' thoo his fingahs at dem movin' lines,'Twell he cain't set still no longah w'en de fiddles sing,Up he jump, an' bless you, honey, cut de pigeon-wing.
Pa'son Hedgehog groanin' awful at his converts' shines,
'Dough he peepin' thoo his fingahs at dem movin' lines,
'Twell he cain't set still no longah w'en de fiddles sing,
Up he jump, an' bless you, honey, cut de pigeon-wing.
Well, de critters lak to fainted jes' wid dey su'prise.Sistah Fox, she vowed she was n't gwine to b'lieve huh eyes;But dey could n't be no 'sputin' 'bout it any mo':Pa'son Hedgehog was a-cape'in' all erroun' de flo.'
Well, de critters lak to fainted jes' wid dey su'prise.
Sistah Fox, she vowed she was n't gwine to b'lieve huh eyes;
But dey could n't be no 'sputin' 'bout it any mo':
Pa'son Hedgehog was a-cape'in' all erroun' de flo.'
Den dey all jes' capahed scan'lous case dey did n't doubt,Dat dey still could go to meetin'; who could tu'n 'em out?So wid dancin' an' uligion, dey was in de fol',Fu' a-dancin' wid de Pa'son couldn't hu't de soul.
Den dey all jes' capahed scan'lous case dey did n't doubt,
Dat dey still could go to meetin'; who could tu'n 'em out?
So wid dancin' an' uligion, dey was in de fol',
Fu' a-dancin' wid de Pa'son couldn't hu't de soul.
WHEN DEY 'LISTED COLORED SOLDIERSDey was talkin' in de cabin, dey was talkin' in de hall;But I listened kin' o' keerless, not a-t'inkin' 'bout it all;An' on Sunday, too, I noticed, dey was whisp'rin' mighty much,Stan'in' all erroun' de roadside w'en dey let us out o' chu'ch.But I did n't t'ink erbout it 'twell de middle of de week,An' my 'Lias come to see me, an' somehow he could n't speak.Den I seed all in a minute whut he 'd come to see me for;—Dey had 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias gwine to wah.Oh, I hugged him, an' I kissed him, an' I baiged him not to go;But he tol' me dat his conscience, hit was callin' to him so,An' he could n't baih to lingah w'en he had a chanst to fightFor de freedom dey had gin him an' de glory of de right.So he kissed me, an' he lef me, w'en I 'd p'omised to be true;An' dey put a knapsack on him, an' a coat all colo'ed blue.So I gin him pap's ol' Bible f'om de bottom of de draw',—W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.But I t'ought of all de weary miles dat he would have to tramp,An' I could n't be contented w'en dey tuk him to de camp.W'y my hea't nigh broke wid grievin' 'twell I seed him on de street;Den I felt lak I could go an' th'ow my body at his feet.For his buttons was a-shinin', an' his face was shinin', too,An' he looked so strong an' mighty in his coat o' sojer blue,Dat I hollahed, "Step up, manny," dough my th'oat was so' an' raw,—W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.Ol' Mis' cried w'en mastah lef huh, young Miss mou'ned huh brothah Ned,An' I did n't know dey feelin's is de ve'y wo'ds dey saidW'en I tol' 'em I was so'y. Dey had done gin up dey all;But dey only seemed mo' proudah dat dey men had hyeahed de call.Bofe my mastahs went in gray suits, an' I loved de Yankee blue,But I t'ought dat I could sorrer for de losin' of 'em too;But I could n't, for I did n't know de ha'f o' whut I saw,'Twell dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.Mastah Jack come home all sickly; he was broke for life, dey said;An' dey lef my po' young mastah some'r's on de roadside,—dead.W'en de women cried an' mou'ned 'em, I could feel it thoo an' thoo,For I had a loved un fightin' in de way o' dangah, too.Den dey tol' me dey had laid him some'r's way down souf to res',Wid de flag dat he had fit for shinin' daih acrost his breas'.Well, I cried, but den I reckon dat 's whut Gawd had called him for,W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
Dey was talkin' in de cabin, dey was talkin' in de hall;But I listened kin' o' keerless, not a-t'inkin' 'bout it all;An' on Sunday, too, I noticed, dey was whisp'rin' mighty much,Stan'in' all erroun' de roadside w'en dey let us out o' chu'ch.But I did n't t'ink erbout it 'twell de middle of de week,An' my 'Lias come to see me, an' somehow he could n't speak.Den I seed all in a minute whut he 'd come to see me for;—Dey had 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias gwine to wah.
Dey was talkin' in de cabin, dey was talkin' in de hall;
But I listened kin' o' keerless, not a-t'inkin' 'bout it all;
An' on Sunday, too, I noticed, dey was whisp'rin' mighty much,
Stan'in' all erroun' de roadside w'en dey let us out o' chu'ch.
But I did n't t'ink erbout it 'twell de middle of de week,
An' my 'Lias come to see me, an' somehow he could n't speak.
Den I seed all in a minute whut he 'd come to see me for;—
Dey had 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias gwine to wah.
Oh, I hugged him, an' I kissed him, an' I baiged him not to go;But he tol' me dat his conscience, hit was callin' to him so,An' he could n't baih to lingah w'en he had a chanst to fightFor de freedom dey had gin him an' de glory of de right.So he kissed me, an' he lef me, w'en I 'd p'omised to be true;An' dey put a knapsack on him, an' a coat all colo'ed blue.So I gin him pap's ol' Bible f'om de bottom of de draw',—W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
Oh, I hugged him, an' I kissed him, an' I baiged him not to go;
But he tol' me dat his conscience, hit was callin' to him so,
An' he could n't baih to lingah w'en he had a chanst to fight
For de freedom dey had gin him an' de glory of de right.
So he kissed me, an' he lef me, w'en I 'd p'omised to be true;
An' dey put a knapsack on him, an' a coat all colo'ed blue.
So I gin him pap's ol' Bible f'om de bottom of de draw',—
W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
But I t'ought of all de weary miles dat he would have to tramp,An' I could n't be contented w'en dey tuk him to de camp.W'y my hea't nigh broke wid grievin' 'twell I seed him on de street;Den I felt lak I could go an' th'ow my body at his feet.For his buttons was a-shinin', an' his face was shinin', too,An' he looked so strong an' mighty in his coat o' sojer blue,Dat I hollahed, "Step up, manny," dough my th'oat was so' an' raw,—W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
But I t'ought of all de weary miles dat he would have to tramp,
An' I could n't be contented w'en dey tuk him to de camp.
W'y my hea't nigh broke wid grievin' 'twell I seed him on de street;
Den I felt lak I could go an' th'ow my body at his feet.
For his buttons was a-shinin', an' his face was shinin', too,
An' he looked so strong an' mighty in his coat o' sojer blue,
Dat I hollahed, "Step up, manny," dough my th'oat was so' an' raw,—
W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
Ol' Mis' cried w'en mastah lef huh, young Miss mou'ned huh brothah Ned,An' I did n't know dey feelin's is de ve'y wo'ds dey saidW'en I tol' 'em I was so'y. Dey had done gin up dey all;But dey only seemed mo' proudah dat dey men had hyeahed de call.Bofe my mastahs went in gray suits, an' I loved de Yankee blue,But I t'ought dat I could sorrer for de losin' of 'em too;But I could n't, for I did n't know de ha'f o' whut I saw,'Twell dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
Ol' Mis' cried w'en mastah lef huh, young Miss mou'ned huh brothah Ned,
An' I did n't know dey feelin's is de ve'y wo'ds dey said
W'en I tol' 'em I was so'y. Dey had done gin up dey all;
But dey only seemed mo' proudah dat dey men had hyeahed de call.
Bofe my mastahs went in gray suits, an' I loved de Yankee blue,
But I t'ought dat I could sorrer for de losin' of 'em too;
But I could n't, for I did n't know de ha'f o' whut I saw,
'Twell dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
Mastah Jack come home all sickly; he was broke for life, dey said;An' dey lef my po' young mastah some'r's on de roadside,—dead.W'en de women cried an' mou'ned 'em, I could feel it thoo an' thoo,For I had a loved un fightin' in de way o' dangah, too.Den dey tol' me dey had laid him some'r's way down souf to res',Wid de flag dat he had fit for shinin' daih acrost his breas'.Well, I cried, but den I reckon dat 's whut Gawd had called him for,W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
Mastah Jack come home all sickly; he was broke for life, dey said;
An' dey lef my po' young mastah some'r's on de roadside,—dead.
W'en de women cried an' mou'ned 'em, I could feel it thoo an' thoo,
For I had a loved un fightin' in de way o' dangah, too.
Den dey tol' me dey had laid him some'r's way down souf to res',
Wid de flag dat he had fit for shinin' daih acrost his breas'.
Well, I cried, but den I reckon dat 's whut Gawd had called him for,
W'en dey 'listed colo'ed sojers an' my 'Lias went to wah.
LINCOLNHurt was the nation with a mighty wound,And all her ways were filled with clam'rous sound.Wailed loud the South with unremitting grief,And wept the North that could not find relief.Then madness joined its harshest tone to strife:A minor note swelled in the song of life.'Till, stirring with the love that filled his breast,But still, unflinching at the right's behest,Grave Lincoln came, strong handed, from afar,The mighty Homer of the lyre of war.'T was he who bade the raging tempest cease,Wrenched from his harp the harmony of peace,Muted the strings, that made the discord,—Wrong,And gave his spirit up in thund'rous song.Oh mighty Master of the mighty lyre,Earth heard and trembled at thy strains of fire:Earth learned of thee what Heav'n already knew,And wrote thee down among her treasured few.
Hurt was the nation with a mighty wound,And all her ways were filled with clam'rous sound.Wailed loud the South with unremitting grief,And wept the North that could not find relief.Then madness joined its harshest tone to strife:A minor note swelled in the song of life.'Till, stirring with the love that filled his breast,But still, unflinching at the right's behest,Grave Lincoln came, strong handed, from afar,The mighty Homer of the lyre of war.'T was he who bade the raging tempest cease,Wrenched from his harp the harmony of peace,Muted the strings, that made the discord,—Wrong,And gave his spirit up in thund'rous song.Oh mighty Master of the mighty lyre,Earth heard and trembled at thy strains of fire:Earth learned of thee what Heav'n already knew,And wrote thee down among her treasured few.
Hurt was the nation with a mighty wound,
And all her ways were filled with clam'rous sound.
Wailed loud the South with unremitting grief,
And wept the North that could not find relief.
Then madness joined its harshest tone to strife:
A minor note swelled in the song of life.
'Till, stirring with the love that filled his breast,
But still, unflinching at the right's behest,
Grave Lincoln came, strong handed, from afar,
The mighty Homer of the lyre of war.
'T was he who bade the raging tempest cease,
Wrenched from his harp the harmony of peace,
Muted the strings, that made the discord,—Wrong,
And gave his spirit up in thund'rous song.
Oh mighty Master of the mighty lyre,
Earth heard and trembled at thy strains of fire:
Earth learned of thee what Heav'n already knew,
And wrote thee down among her treasured few.
ENCOURAGEMENTWho dat knockin' at de do'?Why, Ike Johnson,—yes, fu' sho!Come in, Ike. I 's mighty gladYou come down. I t'ought you 's madAt me 'bout de othah night,An' was stayin' 'way fu' spite.Say, now, was you mad fu' trueWen I kin' o' laughed at you?Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.'T ain't no use a-lookin' sad,An' a-mekin' out you 's mad;Ef you 's gwine to be so glum,Wondah why you evah come.I don't lak nobidy 'roun'Dat jes' shet dey mouf an' frown,—Oh, now, man, don't act a dunce!Cain't you talk? I tol' you once,Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.Wha 'd you come hyeah fu' to-night?Body 'd t'ink yo' haid ain't right.I 's done all dat I kin do,—Dressed perticler, jes' fu' you;Reckon I 'd 'a' bettah wo'My ol' ragged calico.Aftah all de pains I 's took,Cain't you tell me how I look?Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.Bless my soul! I 'mos' fu'gotTellin' you 'bout Tildy Scott.Don't you know, come Thu'sday night,She gwine ma'y Lucius White?Miss Lize say I allus wuhHeap sight laklier 'n huh;An' she 'll git me somep'n new,Ef I wants to ma'y too.Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.I could ma'y in a week,Ef de man I wants 'ud speak.Tildy's presents 'll be fine,But dey would n't ekal mine.Him whut gits me fu' a wife'Ll be proud, you bet yo' life.I 's had offers; some ain't quit;But I has n't ma'ied yit!Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.Ike, I loves you,—yes, I does;You 's my choice, and allus was.Laffin' at you ain't no harm.—Go 'way, dahky, whah 's yo' arm?Hug me closer—dah, dat 's right!Was n't you a awful sight,Havin' me to baig you so?Now ax whut you want to know,—Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f!
Who dat knockin' at de do'?Why, Ike Johnson,—yes, fu' sho!Come in, Ike. I 's mighty gladYou come down. I t'ought you 's madAt me 'bout de othah night,An' was stayin' 'way fu' spite.Say, now, was you mad fu' trueWen I kin' o' laughed at you?Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
Who dat knockin' at de do'?
Why, Ike Johnson,—yes, fu' sho!
Come in, Ike. I 's mighty glad
You come down. I t'ought you 's mad
At me 'bout de othah night,
An' was stayin' 'way fu' spite.
Say, now, was you mad fu' true
Wen I kin' o' laughed at you?
Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
'T ain't no use a-lookin' sad,An' a-mekin' out you 's mad;Ef you 's gwine to be so glum,Wondah why you evah come.I don't lak nobidy 'roun'Dat jes' shet dey mouf an' frown,—Oh, now, man, don't act a dunce!Cain't you talk? I tol' you once,Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
'T ain't no use a-lookin' sad,
An' a-mekin' out you 's mad;
Ef you 's gwine to be so glum,
Wondah why you evah come.
I don't lak nobidy 'roun'
Dat jes' shet dey mouf an' frown,—
Oh, now, man, don't act a dunce!
Cain't you talk? I tol' you once,
Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
Wha 'd you come hyeah fu' to-night?Body 'd t'ink yo' haid ain't right.I 's done all dat I kin do,—Dressed perticler, jes' fu' you;Reckon I 'd 'a' bettah wo'My ol' ragged calico.Aftah all de pains I 's took,Cain't you tell me how I look?Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
Wha 'd you come hyeah fu' to-night?
Body 'd t'ink yo' haid ain't right.
I 's done all dat I kin do,—
Dressed perticler, jes' fu' you;
Reckon I 'd 'a' bettah wo'
My ol' ragged calico.
Aftah all de pains I 's took,
Cain't you tell me how I look?
Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
Bless my soul! I 'mos' fu'gotTellin' you 'bout Tildy Scott.Don't you know, come Thu'sday night,She gwine ma'y Lucius White?Miss Lize say I allus wuhHeap sight laklier 'n huh;An' she 'll git me somep'n new,Ef I wants to ma'y too.Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
Bless my soul! I 'mos' fu'got
Tellin' you 'bout Tildy Scott.
Don't you know, come Thu'sday night,
She gwine ma'y Lucius White?
Miss Lize say I allus wuh
Heap sight laklier 'n huh;
An' she 'll git me somep'n new,
Ef I wants to ma'y too.
Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
I could ma'y in a week,Ef de man I wants 'ud speak.Tildy's presents 'll be fine,But dey would n't ekal mine.Him whut gits me fu' a wife'Ll be proud, you bet yo' life.I 's had offers; some ain't quit;But I has n't ma'ied yit!Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
I could ma'y in a week,
Ef de man I wants 'ud speak.
Tildy's presents 'll be fine,
But dey would n't ekal mine.
Him whut gits me fu' a wife
'Ll be proud, you bet yo' life.
I 's had offers; some ain't quit;
But I has n't ma'ied yit!
Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.
Ike, I loves you,—yes, I does;You 's my choice, and allus was.Laffin' at you ain't no harm.—Go 'way, dahky, whah 's yo' arm?Hug me closer—dah, dat 's right!Was n't you a awful sight,Havin' me to baig you so?Now ax whut you want to know,—Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f!
Ike, I loves you,—yes, I does;
You 's my choice, and allus was.
Laffin' at you ain't no harm.—
Go 'way, dahky, whah 's yo' arm?
Hug me closer—dah, dat 's right!
Was n't you a awful sight,
Havin' me to baig you so?
Now ax whut you want to know,—
Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f!
THE BOOGAH MANW'en de evenin' shaddersCome a-glidin' down,Fallin' black an' heavyOvah hill an' town,Ef you listen keerful,Keerful ez you kin,So 's you boun' to noticeDes a drappin' pin;Den you 'll hyeah a funnySoun' ercross de lan';Lay low; dat's de callin'Of de Boogah Man!Woo-oo woo-oo!Hyeah him ez he go erlong de way;Woo-oo, woo-oo!Don' you wish de night 'ud t'un to day?Woo-oo, woo-oo!Hide yo' little peepers 'hind yo' han;Woo-oo, woo-oo!Callin' of de Boogah Man.W'en de win 's a-shiverin'Thoo de gloomy lane,An' dey comes de patterin'Of de evenin' rain,W'en de owl's a-hootin',Out daih in de wood,Don' you wish, my honey,Dat you had been good?'T ain't no use to try toSnuggle up to Dan;Bless you, dat's de callin'Of de Boogah Man!Ef you loves yo' mammy,An' you min's yo' pap,Ef you nevah wrigglesOuten Sukey's lap;Ef you says yo' "Lay me"Evah single night'Fo' dey tucks de kiversAn' puts out de light,Den de rain kin pattahWin' blow lak a fan,But you need n' bothah'Bout de Boogah Man!
W'en de evenin' shaddersCome a-glidin' down,Fallin' black an' heavyOvah hill an' town,Ef you listen keerful,Keerful ez you kin,So 's you boun' to noticeDes a drappin' pin;Den you 'll hyeah a funnySoun' ercross de lan';Lay low; dat's de callin'Of de Boogah Man!
W'en de evenin' shadders
Come a-glidin' down,
Fallin' black an' heavy
Ovah hill an' town,
Ef you listen keerful,
Keerful ez you kin,
So 's you boun' to notice
Des a drappin' pin;
Den you 'll hyeah a funny
Soun' ercross de lan';
Lay low; dat's de callin'
Of de Boogah Man!
Woo-oo woo-oo!Hyeah him ez he go erlong de way;Woo-oo, woo-oo!Don' you wish de night 'ud t'un to day?Woo-oo, woo-oo!Hide yo' little peepers 'hind yo' han;Woo-oo, woo-oo!Callin' of de Boogah Man.
Woo-oo woo-oo!
Hyeah him ez he go erlong de way;
Woo-oo, woo-oo!
Don' you wish de night 'ud t'un to day?
Woo-oo, woo-oo!
Hide yo' little peepers 'hind yo' han;
Woo-oo, woo-oo!
Callin' of de Boogah Man.
W'en de win 's a-shiverin'Thoo de gloomy lane,An' dey comes de patterin'Of de evenin' rain,W'en de owl's a-hootin',Out daih in de wood,Don' you wish, my honey,Dat you had been good?'T ain't no use to try toSnuggle up to Dan;Bless you, dat's de callin'Of de Boogah Man!
W'en de win 's a-shiverin'
Thoo de gloomy lane,
An' dey comes de patterin'
Of de evenin' rain,
W'en de owl's a-hootin',
Out daih in de wood,
Don' you wish, my honey,
Dat you had been good?
'T ain't no use to try to
Snuggle up to Dan;
Bless you, dat's de callin'
Of de Boogah Man!
Ef you loves yo' mammy,An' you min's yo' pap,Ef you nevah wrigglesOuten Sukey's lap;Ef you says yo' "Lay me"Evah single night'Fo' dey tucks de kiversAn' puts out de light,Den de rain kin pattahWin' blow lak a fan,But you need n' bothah'Bout de Boogah Man!
Ef you loves yo' mammy,
An' you min's yo' pap,
Ef you nevah wriggles
Outen Sukey's lap;
Ef you says yo' "Lay me"
Evah single night
'Fo' dey tucks de kivers
An' puts out de light,
Den de rain kin pattah
Win' blow lak a fan,
But you need n' bothah
'Bout de Boogah Man!
THE WRAITHAh me, it is cold and chillAnd the fire sobs low in the grate,While the wind rides by on the hill,And the logs crack sharp with hate.And she, she is cold and sadAs ever the sinful are,But deep in my heart I am gladFor my wound and the coming scar.Oh, ever the wind rides byAnd ever the raindrops grieve;But a voice like a woman's sighSays, "Do you believe, believe?"Ah, you were warm and sweet,Sweet as the May days be;Down did I fall at your feet,Why did you hearken to me?Oh, the logs they crack and whine,And the water drops from the eaves;But it is not rain but brineWhere my dead darling grieves.And a wraith sits by my side,A spectre grim and dark;Are you gazing here open-eyedOut to the lifeless dark?But ever the wind rides on,And we sit close within;Out of the face of the dawn,I and my darling,—sin.
Ah me, it is cold and chillAnd the fire sobs low in the grate,While the wind rides by on the hill,And the logs crack sharp with hate.
Ah me, it is cold and chill
And the fire sobs low in the grate,
While the wind rides by on the hill,
And the logs crack sharp with hate.
And she, she is cold and sadAs ever the sinful are,But deep in my heart I am gladFor my wound and the coming scar.
And she, she is cold and sad
As ever the sinful are,
But deep in my heart I am glad
For my wound and the coming scar.
Oh, ever the wind rides byAnd ever the raindrops grieve;But a voice like a woman's sighSays, "Do you believe, believe?"
Oh, ever the wind rides by
And ever the raindrops grieve;
But a voice like a woman's sigh
Says, "Do you believe, believe?"
Ah, you were warm and sweet,Sweet as the May days be;Down did I fall at your feet,Why did you hearken to me?
Ah, you were warm and sweet,
Sweet as the May days be;
Down did I fall at your feet,
Why did you hearken to me?
Oh, the logs they crack and whine,And the water drops from the eaves;But it is not rain but brineWhere my dead darling grieves.
Oh, the logs they crack and whine,
And the water drops from the eaves;
But it is not rain but brine
Where my dead darling grieves.
And a wraith sits by my side,A spectre grim and dark;Are you gazing here open-eyedOut to the lifeless dark?
And a wraith sits by my side,
A spectre grim and dark;
Are you gazing here open-eyed
Out to the lifeless dark?
But ever the wind rides on,And we sit close within;Out of the face of the dawn,I and my darling,—sin.
But ever the wind rides on,
And we sit close within;
Out of the face of the dawn,
I and my darling,—sin.
SILENCE'T is better to sit here beside the sea,Here on the spray-kissed beach,In silence, that between such friends as weIs full of deepest speech.
'T is better to sit here beside the sea,Here on the spray-kissed beach,In silence, that between such friends as weIs full of deepest speech.
'T is better to sit here beside the sea,
Here on the spray-kissed beach,
In silence, that between such friends as we
Is full of deepest speech.
WHIP-POOR-WILL AND KATY-DIDSlow de night 's a-fallin',An' I hyeah de callin,Out erpon de lonesome hill;Soun' is moughty dreary,Solemn-lak an' skeery,Sayin' fu' to "whip po' Will."Now hit 's moughty tryin',Fu' to hyeah dis cryin','Deed hit 's mo' den I kin stan';Sho' wid all our slippin',Dey 's enough of whippin''Dout a bird a'visin' any man.In de noons o' summahDey 's anothah hummahSings anothah song instid;An' his th'oat 's a-swellin'Wid de joy o' tellin',But he says dat "Katy did."Now I feels onsuhtain;Won't you raise de cu'tainOvah all de ti'ngs dat 's hid?W'y dat feathahed p'isenGoes erbout a-visin'Whippin' Will w'en Katy did?
Slow de night 's a-fallin',An' I hyeah de callin,Out erpon de lonesome hill;Soun' is moughty dreary,Solemn-lak an' skeery,Sayin' fu' to "whip po' Will."
Slow de night 's a-fallin',
An' I hyeah de callin,
Out erpon de lonesome hill;
Soun' is moughty dreary,
Solemn-lak an' skeery,
Sayin' fu' to "whip po' Will."
Now hit 's moughty tryin',Fu' to hyeah dis cryin','Deed hit 's mo' den I kin stan';Sho' wid all our slippin',Dey 's enough of whippin''Dout a bird a'visin' any man.
Now hit 's moughty tryin',
Fu' to hyeah dis cryin',
'Deed hit 's mo' den I kin stan';
Sho' wid all our slippin',
Dey 's enough of whippin'
'Dout a bird a'visin' any man.
In de noons o' summahDey 's anothah hummahSings anothah song instid;An' his th'oat 's a-swellin'Wid de joy o' tellin',But he says dat "Katy did."
In de noons o' summah
Dey 's anothah hummah
Sings anothah song instid;
An' his th'oat 's a-swellin'
Wid de joy o' tellin',
But he says dat "Katy did."
Now I feels onsuhtain;Won't you raise de cu'tainOvah all de ti'ngs dat 's hid?W'y dat feathahed p'isenGoes erbout a-visin'Whippin' Will w'en Katy did?
Now I feels onsuhtain;
Won't you raise de cu'tain
Ovah all de ti'ngs dat 's hid?
W'y dat feathahed p'isen
Goes erbout a-visin'
Whippin' Will w'en Katy did?
'LONG TO'DS NIGHTDaih 's a moughty soothin' feelin'Hits a dahky man,'Long to'ds night.W'en de row is mos' nigh ended,Den he stops to fan,'Long to'ds night.De blue smoke f'om his cabin is a-callin' to him "Come;"He smell de bacon cookin', an' he hyeah de fiah hum;An' he 'mence to sing, 'dough wo'kin' putty nigh done made him dumb,'Long to'ds night.Wid his hoe erpon his shouldahDen he goes erlong,'Long to'ds night.An' he keepin' time a-steppin'Wid a little song,'Long to'ds night.De restin'-time 's a-comin', an' de time to drink an' eat;A baby's toddlin' to'ds him on hits little dusty feet,An' a-goin' to'ds his cabin, an' his suppah 's moughty sweet,'Long to'ds night.Daih his Ca'line min' de kettle,Rufus min' de chile,'Long to'ds night;An' de sweat roll down his forred,Mixin' wid his smile,'Long to'ds night.He toss his piccaninny, an' he hum a little chune;De wokin' all is ovah, an' de suppah comin' soon;De wo'kin' time 's Decembah, but de restin' time is June,'Long to'ds night.Dey 's a kin' o' doleful feelin',Hits a tendah place,'Long to'ds night;Dey 's a moughty glory in himShinin' thoo his face,Long to'ds night.De cabin 's lak de big house, an' de fiah's lak de sun;His wife look moughty lakly, an' de chile de puttiest one;W'y, hit 's blessid, jes' a-livin' w'en a body's wo'k is done.'Long to'ds night.
Daih 's a moughty soothin' feelin'Hits a dahky man,'Long to'ds night.W'en de row is mos' nigh ended,Den he stops to fan,'Long to'ds night.De blue smoke f'om his cabin is a-callin' to him "Come;"He smell de bacon cookin', an' he hyeah de fiah hum;An' he 'mence to sing, 'dough wo'kin' putty nigh done made him dumb,'Long to'ds night.
Daih 's a moughty soothin' feelin'
Hits a dahky man,
'Long to'ds night.
W'en de row is mos' nigh ended,
Den he stops to fan,
'Long to'ds night.
De blue smoke f'om his cabin is a-callin' to him "Come;"
He smell de bacon cookin', an' he hyeah de fiah hum;
An' he 'mence to sing, 'dough wo'kin' putty nigh done made him dumb,
'Long to'ds night.
Wid his hoe erpon his shouldahDen he goes erlong,'Long to'ds night.An' he keepin' time a-steppin'Wid a little song,'Long to'ds night.De restin'-time 's a-comin', an' de time to drink an' eat;A baby's toddlin' to'ds him on hits little dusty feet,An' a-goin' to'ds his cabin, an' his suppah 's moughty sweet,'Long to'ds night.
Wid his hoe erpon his shouldah
Den he goes erlong,
'Long to'ds night.
An' he keepin' time a-steppin'
Wid a little song,
'Long to'ds night.
De restin'-time 's a-comin', an' de time to drink an' eat;
A baby's toddlin' to'ds him on hits little dusty feet,
An' a-goin' to'ds his cabin, an' his suppah 's moughty sweet,
'Long to'ds night.
Daih his Ca'line min' de kettle,Rufus min' de chile,'Long to'ds night;An' de sweat roll down his forred,Mixin' wid his smile,'Long to'ds night.He toss his piccaninny, an' he hum a little chune;De wokin' all is ovah, an' de suppah comin' soon;De wo'kin' time 's Decembah, but de restin' time is June,'Long to'ds night.
Daih his Ca'line min' de kettle,
Rufus min' de chile,
'Long to'ds night;
An' de sweat roll down his forred,
Mixin' wid his smile,
'Long to'ds night.
He toss his piccaninny, an' he hum a little chune;
De wokin' all is ovah, an' de suppah comin' soon;
De wo'kin' time 's Decembah, but de restin' time is June,
'Long to'ds night.
Dey 's a kin' o' doleful feelin',Hits a tendah place,'Long to'ds night;Dey 's a moughty glory in himShinin' thoo his face,Long to'ds night.De cabin 's lak de big house, an' de fiah's lak de sun;His wife look moughty lakly, an' de chile de puttiest one;W'y, hit 's blessid, jes' a-livin' w'en a body's wo'k is done.'Long to'ds night.
Dey 's a kin' o' doleful feelin',
Hits a tendah place,
'Long to'ds night;
Dey 's a moughty glory in him
Shinin' thoo his face,
Long to'ds night.
De cabin 's lak de big house, an' de fiah's lak de sun;
His wife look moughty lakly, an' de chile de puttiest one;
W'y, hit 's blessid, jes' a-livin' w'en a body's wo'k is done.
'Long to'ds night.
A GRIEVANCEWen de snow 's a-fallin'An' de win' is col'.Mammy 'mence a-callin',Den she 'mence to scol',"Lucius Lishy Brackett,Don't you go out do's,Button up yo' jacket,Les'n you 'll git froze."I sit at de windahLookin' at de groun',Nuffin nigh to hindah,Mammy ain' erroun';Wish 't she would n' mek meSet down in dis chaih;Pshaw, it would n't tek meLong to git some aih.So I jump down nimbleEz a boy kin be,Dough I 's all a-trimbleFeahed some one 'll see;Bet in a half a minuteI fly out de do'An' I 's knee-deep in it,Dat dah blessed snow.Den I hyeah a pattahCome acrost de flo'.Den dey comes a clattahAt de cabin do';An' my mammy hollerSpoilin' all my joy,"Come in f'om dat waller,Don't I see you, boy?"Wen de snow 's a-sievin'Down ez sof ez meal,Whut 's de use o' livin''Cept you got de feelOf de stuff dat's fallin''Roun' an' white an' damp,'Dout some one a-callin',"Come in hyeah, you scamp!"
Wen de snow 's a-fallin'An' de win' is col'.Mammy 'mence a-callin',Den she 'mence to scol',"Lucius Lishy Brackett,Don't you go out do's,Button up yo' jacket,Les'n you 'll git froze."
Wen de snow 's a-fallin'
An' de win' is col'.
Mammy 'mence a-callin',
Den she 'mence to scol',
"Lucius Lishy Brackett,
Don't you go out do's,
Button up yo' jacket,
Les'n you 'll git froze."
I sit at de windahLookin' at de groun',Nuffin nigh to hindah,Mammy ain' erroun';Wish 't she would n' mek meSet down in dis chaih;Pshaw, it would n't tek meLong to git some aih.
I sit at de windah
Lookin' at de groun',
Nuffin nigh to hindah,
Mammy ain' erroun';
Wish 't she would n' mek me
Set down in dis chaih;
Pshaw, it would n't tek me
Long to git some aih.
So I jump down nimbleEz a boy kin be,Dough I 's all a-trimbleFeahed some one 'll see;Bet in a half a minuteI fly out de do'An' I 's knee-deep in it,Dat dah blessed snow.
So I jump down nimble
Ez a boy kin be,
Dough I 's all a-trimble
Feahed some one 'll see;
Bet in a half a minute
I fly out de do'
An' I 's knee-deep in it,
Dat dah blessed snow.
Den I hyeah a pattahCome acrost de flo'.Den dey comes a clattahAt de cabin do';An' my mammy hollerSpoilin' all my joy,"Come in f'om dat waller,Don't I see you, boy?"
Den I hyeah a pattah
Come acrost de flo'.
Den dey comes a clattah
At de cabin do';
An' my mammy holler
Spoilin' all my joy,
"Come in f'om dat waller,
Don't I see you, boy?"
Wen de snow 's a-sievin'Down ez sof ez meal,Whut 's de use o' livin''Cept you got de feelOf de stuff dat's fallin''Roun' an' white an' damp,'Dout some one a-callin',"Come in hyeah, you scamp!"
Wen de snow 's a-sievin'
Down ez sof ez meal,
Whut 's de use o' livin'
'Cept you got de feel
Of de stuff dat's fallin'
'Roun' an' white an' damp,
'Dout some one a-callin',
"Come in hyeah, you scamp!"
DINAH KNEADING DOUGHI have seen full many a sightBorn of day or drawn by night:Sunlight on a silver stream,Golden lilies all a-dream,Lofty mountains, bold and proud,Veiled beneath the lacelike cloud;But no lovely sight I knowEquals Dinah kneading dough.Brown arms buried elbow-deepTheir domestic rhythm keep,As with steady sweep they goThrough the gently yielding dough.Maids may vaunt their finer charms—Naught to me like Dinah's arms;Girls may draw, or paint, or sew—I love Dinah kneading dough.Eyes of jet and teeth of pearl,Hair, some say, too tight a-curl;But the dainty maid I deemVery near perfection's dream.Swift she works, and only flingsMe a glance—the least of things.And I wonder, does she knowThat my heart is in the dough?
I have seen full many a sightBorn of day or drawn by night:Sunlight on a silver stream,Golden lilies all a-dream,Lofty mountains, bold and proud,Veiled beneath the lacelike cloud;But no lovely sight I knowEquals Dinah kneading dough.
I have seen full many a sight
Born of day or drawn by night:
Sunlight on a silver stream,
Golden lilies all a-dream,
Lofty mountains, bold and proud,
Veiled beneath the lacelike cloud;
But no lovely sight I know
Equals Dinah kneading dough.
Brown arms buried elbow-deepTheir domestic rhythm keep,As with steady sweep they goThrough the gently yielding dough.Maids may vaunt their finer charms—Naught to me like Dinah's arms;Girls may draw, or paint, or sew—I love Dinah kneading dough.
Brown arms buried elbow-deep
Their domestic rhythm keep,
As with steady sweep they go
Through the gently yielding dough.
Maids may vaunt their finer charms—
Naught to me like Dinah's arms;
Girls may draw, or paint, or sew—
I love Dinah kneading dough.
Eyes of jet and teeth of pearl,Hair, some say, too tight a-curl;But the dainty maid I deemVery near perfection's dream.Swift she works, and only flingsMe a glance—the least of things.And I wonder, does she knowThat my heart is in the dough?
Eyes of jet and teeth of pearl,
Hair, some say, too tight a-curl;
But the dainty maid I deem
Very near perfection's dream.
Swift she works, and only flings
Me a glance—the least of things.
And I wonder, does she know
That my heart is in the dough?
TO A CAPTIOUS CRITICDear critic, who my lightness so deplores,Would I might study to be prince of bores,Right wisely would I rule that dull estate—But, sir, I may not, till you abdicate.
Dear critic, who my lightness so deplores,Would I might study to be prince of bores,Right wisely would I rule that dull estate—But, sir, I may not, till you abdicate.
Dear critic, who my lightness so deplores,
Would I might study to be prince of bores,
Right wisely would I rule that dull estate—
But, sir, I may not, till you abdicate.
DAT OL' MARE O' MINEWant to trade me, do you, mistah? Oh, well, now, I reckon not,W'y you could n't buy my Sukey fu' a thousan' on de spot.Dat ol' mare o' mine?Yes, huh coat ah long an' shaggy, an' she ain't no shakes to see;Dat's a ring-bone, yes, you right, suh, an' she got a on'ry knee,But dey ain't no use in talkin', she de only hoss fu' me,Dat ol' mare o' mine.Co'se, I knows dat Suke 's contra'y, an' she moughty ap' to vex;But you got to mek erlowance fu' de nature of huh sex;Dat ol' mare o' mine.Ef you pull her on de lef han'; she plum 'termined to go right,A cannon could n't skeer huh, but she boun' to tek a frightAt a piece o' common paper, or anyt'ing whut's white,Dat ol' mare o' mine.Wen my eyes commence to fail me, dough, I trus'es to huh sight,An' she 'll tote me safe an' hones' on de ve'y da'kes' night,Dat ol' mare o' mine.Ef I whup huh, she jes' switch huh tail, an' settle to a walk,Ef I whup huh mo', she shek huh haid, an' lak ez not, she balk.But huh sense ain't no ways lackin', she do evah t'ing but talk,Dat ol' mare o' mine.But she gentle ez a lady w'en she know huh beau kin see.An' she sholy got mo' gumption any day den you or me,Dat ol' mare o' mine.She's a leetle slow a-goin,' an' she moughty ha'd to sta't,But we 's gittin' ol' togathah, an' she 's closah to my hea't,An' I does n't reckon, mistah, dat she 'd sca'cely keer to pa't;Dat ol' mare o' mine.W'y I knows de time dat cidah 's kin' o' muddled up my haid,Ef it had n't been fu' Sukey hyeah, I reckon I 'd been daid;Dat ol' mare o' mine.But she got me in de middle o' de road an' tuk me home,An' she would n't let me wandah, ner she would n't let me roam,Dat's de kin' o' hoss to tie to w'en you 's seed de cidah's foam,Dat ol' mare o' mine.You kin talk erbout yo' heaven, you kin talk erbout yo' hell,Dey is people, dey is hosses, den dey's cattle, den dey's—well—Dat ol' mare o' mine;She de beatenes' t'ing dat evah struck de medders o' de town,An' aldough huh haid ain't fittin' fu' to waih no golden crown,D' ain't a blessed way fu' Petah fu' to tu'n my Sukey down,Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Want to trade me, do you, mistah? Oh, well, now, I reckon not,W'y you could n't buy my Sukey fu' a thousan' on de spot.Dat ol' mare o' mine?Yes, huh coat ah long an' shaggy, an' she ain't no shakes to see;Dat's a ring-bone, yes, you right, suh, an' she got a on'ry knee,But dey ain't no use in talkin', she de only hoss fu' me,Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Want to trade me, do you, mistah? Oh, well, now, I reckon not,
W'y you could n't buy my Sukey fu' a thousan' on de spot.
Dat ol' mare o' mine?
Yes, huh coat ah long an' shaggy, an' she ain't no shakes to see;
Dat's a ring-bone, yes, you right, suh, an' she got a on'ry knee,
But dey ain't no use in talkin', she de only hoss fu' me,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Co'se, I knows dat Suke 's contra'y, an' she moughty ap' to vex;But you got to mek erlowance fu' de nature of huh sex;Dat ol' mare o' mine.Ef you pull her on de lef han'; she plum 'termined to go right,A cannon could n't skeer huh, but she boun' to tek a frightAt a piece o' common paper, or anyt'ing whut's white,Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Co'se, I knows dat Suke 's contra'y, an' she moughty ap' to vex;
But you got to mek erlowance fu' de nature of huh sex;
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Ef you pull her on de lef han'; she plum 'termined to go right,
A cannon could n't skeer huh, but she boun' to tek a fright
At a piece o' common paper, or anyt'ing whut's white,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Wen my eyes commence to fail me, dough, I trus'es to huh sight,An' she 'll tote me safe an' hones' on de ve'y da'kes' night,Dat ol' mare o' mine.Ef I whup huh, she jes' switch huh tail, an' settle to a walk,Ef I whup huh mo', she shek huh haid, an' lak ez not, she balk.But huh sense ain't no ways lackin', she do evah t'ing but talk,Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Wen my eyes commence to fail me, dough, I trus'es to huh sight,
An' she 'll tote me safe an' hones' on de ve'y da'kes' night,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
Ef I whup huh, she jes' switch huh tail, an' settle to a walk,
Ef I whup huh mo', she shek huh haid, an' lak ez not, she balk.
But huh sense ain't no ways lackin', she do evah t'ing but talk,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
But she gentle ez a lady w'en she know huh beau kin see.An' she sholy got mo' gumption any day den you or me,Dat ol' mare o' mine.She's a leetle slow a-goin,' an' she moughty ha'd to sta't,But we 's gittin' ol' togathah, an' she 's closah to my hea't,An' I does n't reckon, mistah, dat she 'd sca'cely keer to pa't;Dat ol' mare o' mine.
But she gentle ez a lady w'en she know huh beau kin see.
An' she sholy got mo' gumption any day den you or me,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
She's a leetle slow a-goin,' an' she moughty ha'd to sta't,
But we 's gittin' ol' togathah, an' she 's closah to my hea't,
An' I does n't reckon, mistah, dat she 'd sca'cely keer to pa't;
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
W'y I knows de time dat cidah 's kin' o' muddled up my haid,Ef it had n't been fu' Sukey hyeah, I reckon I 'd been daid;Dat ol' mare o' mine.But she got me in de middle o' de road an' tuk me home,An' she would n't let me wandah, ner she would n't let me roam,Dat's de kin' o' hoss to tie to w'en you 's seed de cidah's foam,Dat ol' mare o' mine.
W'y I knows de time dat cidah 's kin' o' muddled up my haid,
Ef it had n't been fu' Sukey hyeah, I reckon I 'd been daid;
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
But she got me in de middle o' de road an' tuk me home,
An' she would n't let me wandah, ner she would n't let me roam,
Dat's de kin' o' hoss to tie to w'en you 's seed de cidah's foam,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
You kin talk erbout yo' heaven, you kin talk erbout yo' hell,Dey is people, dey is hosses, den dey's cattle, den dey's—well—Dat ol' mare o' mine;She de beatenes' t'ing dat evah struck de medders o' de town,An' aldough huh haid ain't fittin' fu' to waih no golden crown,D' ain't a blessed way fu' Petah fu' to tu'n my Sukey down,Dat ol' mare o' mine.
You kin talk erbout yo' heaven, you kin talk erbout yo' hell,
Dey is people, dey is hosses, den dey's cattle, den dey's—well—
Dat ol' mare o' mine;
She de beatenes' t'ing dat evah struck de medders o' de town,
An' aldough huh haid ain't fittin' fu' to waih no golden crown,
D' ain't a blessed way fu' Petah fu' to tu'n my Sukey down,
Dat ol' mare o' mine.
IN THE MORNING'Lias! 'Lias! Bless de Lawd!Don' you know de day's erbroad?Ef you don' git up, you scamp,Dey 'll be trouble in dis camp.T'ink I gwine to let you sleepW'ile I meks yo' boa'd an' keep?Dat's a putty howdy-do—Don' you hyeah me, 'Lias—you?Bet ef I come crost dis flo'You won' fin' no time to sno'.Daylight all a-shinin' inWile you sleep—w'y hit's a sin!Ain't de can'le-light enoughTo bu'n out widout a snuff,But you go de mo'nin' thooBu'nin' up de daylight too?'Lias, don' you hyeah me call?No use tu'nin' to'ds de wall;I kin hyeah dat mattuss squeak;Don' you hyeah me w'en I speak?Dis hyeah clock done struck off six—Ca'line, bring me dem ah sticks!Oh, you down, suh; huh, you down—Look hyeah, don' you daih to frown.Ma'ch yo'se'f an' wash yo' face,Don' you splattah all de place;I got somep'n else to do,'Sides jes' cleanin' aftah you.Tek dat comb ah' fix yo' haid—Looks jes' lak a feddah baid.Look hyeah, boy, I let you seeYou sha' n't roll yo' eyes at me.Come hyeah; bring me dat ah strap!Boy, I'll whup you 'twell you drap;You done felt yo'se'f too strong,An' you sholy got me wrong.Set down at dat table thaih;Jes' you whimpah ef you daih!Evah mo'nin' on dis place,Seem lak I mus' lose my grace.Fol' yo' han's an' bow yo' haid—Wait ontwell de blessin' 's said;"Lawd, have mussy on ouah souls—"(Don' you daih to tech dem rolls—)"Bless de food we gwine to eat—"(You set still-Iseeyo' feet;You jes' try dat trick agin!)"Gin us peace an' joy. Amen!"
'Lias! 'Lias! Bless de Lawd!Don' you know de day's erbroad?Ef you don' git up, you scamp,Dey 'll be trouble in dis camp.T'ink I gwine to let you sleepW'ile I meks yo' boa'd an' keep?Dat's a putty howdy-do—Don' you hyeah me, 'Lias—you?
'Lias! 'Lias! Bless de Lawd!
Don' you know de day's erbroad?
Ef you don' git up, you scamp,
Dey 'll be trouble in dis camp.
T'ink I gwine to let you sleep
W'ile I meks yo' boa'd an' keep?
Dat's a putty howdy-do—
Don' you hyeah me, 'Lias—you?
Bet ef I come crost dis flo'You won' fin' no time to sno'.Daylight all a-shinin' inWile you sleep—w'y hit's a sin!Ain't de can'le-light enoughTo bu'n out widout a snuff,But you go de mo'nin' thooBu'nin' up de daylight too?
Bet ef I come crost dis flo'
You won' fin' no time to sno'.
Daylight all a-shinin' in
Wile you sleep—w'y hit's a sin!
Ain't de can'le-light enough
To bu'n out widout a snuff,
But you go de mo'nin' thoo
Bu'nin' up de daylight too?
'Lias, don' you hyeah me call?No use tu'nin' to'ds de wall;I kin hyeah dat mattuss squeak;Don' you hyeah me w'en I speak?Dis hyeah clock done struck off six—Ca'line, bring me dem ah sticks!Oh, you down, suh; huh, you down—Look hyeah, don' you daih to frown.
'Lias, don' you hyeah me call?
No use tu'nin' to'ds de wall;
I kin hyeah dat mattuss squeak;
Don' you hyeah me w'en I speak?
Dis hyeah clock done struck off six—
Ca'line, bring me dem ah sticks!
Oh, you down, suh; huh, you down—
Look hyeah, don' you daih to frown.
Ma'ch yo'se'f an' wash yo' face,Don' you splattah all de place;I got somep'n else to do,'Sides jes' cleanin' aftah you.Tek dat comb ah' fix yo' haid—Looks jes' lak a feddah baid.Look hyeah, boy, I let you seeYou sha' n't roll yo' eyes at me.
Ma'ch yo'se'f an' wash yo' face,
Don' you splattah all de place;
I got somep'n else to do,
'Sides jes' cleanin' aftah you.
Tek dat comb ah' fix yo' haid—
Looks jes' lak a feddah baid.
Look hyeah, boy, I let you see
You sha' n't roll yo' eyes at me.
Come hyeah; bring me dat ah strap!Boy, I'll whup you 'twell you drap;You done felt yo'se'f too strong,An' you sholy got me wrong.Set down at dat table thaih;Jes' you whimpah ef you daih!Evah mo'nin' on dis place,Seem lak I mus' lose my grace.
Come hyeah; bring me dat ah strap!
Boy, I'll whup you 'twell you drap;
You done felt yo'se'f too strong,
An' you sholy got me wrong.
Set down at dat table thaih;
Jes' you whimpah ef you daih!
Evah mo'nin' on dis place,
Seem lak I mus' lose my grace.
Fol' yo' han's an' bow yo' haid—Wait ontwell de blessin' 's said;"Lawd, have mussy on ouah souls—"(Don' you daih to tech dem rolls—)"Bless de food we gwine to eat—"(You set still-Iseeyo' feet;You jes' try dat trick agin!)"Gin us peace an' joy. Amen!"
Fol' yo' han's an' bow yo' haid—
Wait ontwell de blessin' 's said;
"Lawd, have mussy on ouah souls—"
(Don' you daih to tech dem rolls—)
"Bless de food we gwine to eat—"
(You set still-Iseeyo' feet;
You jes' try dat trick agin!)
"Gin us peace an' joy. Amen!"
THE POETHe sang of life, serenely sweet,With, now and then, a deeper note.From some high peak, nigh yet remote,He voiced the world's absorbing beat.He sang of love when earth was young,And Love, itself, was in his lays.But ah, the world, it turned to praiseA jingle in a broken tongue.
He sang of life, serenely sweet,With, now and then, a deeper note.From some high peak, nigh yet remote,He voiced the world's absorbing beat.
He sang of life, serenely sweet,
With, now and then, a deeper note.
From some high peak, nigh yet remote,
He voiced the world's absorbing beat.
He sang of love when earth was young,And Love, itself, was in his lays.But ah, the world, it turned to praiseA jingle in a broken tongue.
He sang of love when earth was young,
And Love, itself, was in his lays.
But ah, the world, it turned to praise
A jingle in a broken tongue.
A FLORIDA NIGHTWin' a-blowin' gentle so de san' lay low,San' a little heavy f'om de rain,All de pa'ms a-wavin' an' a-weavin' slow,Sighin' lak a sinnah-soul in pain.Alligator grinnin' by de ol' lagoon,Mockin'-bird a-singin' to be big full moon.'Skeeter go a-skimmin' to his fightin' chune(Lizy Ann's a-waitin' in de lane!).Moccasin a-sleepin' in de cyprus swamp;Need n't wake de gent'man, not fu' me.Mule, you need n't wake him w'en you switch an' stomp,Fightin' off a 'skeeter er a flea.Florida is lovely, she's de fines' lan'Evah seed de sunlight f'om de Mastah's han','Ceptin' fu' de varmints an' huh fleas an' san'An' de nights w'en Lizy Ann ain' free.Moon 's a-kinder shaddered on de melon patch;No one ain't a-watchin' ez I go.Climbin' of de fence so 's not to click de latchMeks my gittin' in a little slow.Watermelon smilin' as it say, "I' s free;"Alligator boomin', but I let him be,Florida, oh, Florida 's de lan' fu' me—(Lizy Ann a-singin' sweet an' low).
Win' a-blowin' gentle so de san' lay low,San' a little heavy f'om de rain,All de pa'ms a-wavin' an' a-weavin' slow,Sighin' lak a sinnah-soul in pain.Alligator grinnin' by de ol' lagoon,Mockin'-bird a-singin' to be big full moon.'Skeeter go a-skimmin' to his fightin' chune(Lizy Ann's a-waitin' in de lane!).
Win' a-blowin' gentle so de san' lay low,
San' a little heavy f'om de rain,
All de pa'ms a-wavin' an' a-weavin' slow,
Sighin' lak a sinnah-soul in pain.
Alligator grinnin' by de ol' lagoon,
Mockin'-bird a-singin' to be big full moon.
'Skeeter go a-skimmin' to his fightin' chune
(Lizy Ann's a-waitin' in de lane!).
Moccasin a-sleepin' in de cyprus swamp;Need n't wake de gent'man, not fu' me.Mule, you need n't wake him w'en you switch an' stomp,Fightin' off a 'skeeter er a flea.Florida is lovely, she's de fines' lan'Evah seed de sunlight f'om de Mastah's han','Ceptin' fu' de varmints an' huh fleas an' san'An' de nights w'en Lizy Ann ain' free.
Moccasin a-sleepin' in de cyprus swamp;
Need n't wake de gent'man, not fu' me.
Mule, you need n't wake him w'en you switch an' stomp,
Fightin' off a 'skeeter er a flea.
Florida is lovely, she's de fines' lan'
Evah seed de sunlight f'om de Mastah's han',
'Ceptin' fu' de varmints an' huh fleas an' san'
An' de nights w'en Lizy Ann ain' free.
Moon 's a-kinder shaddered on de melon patch;No one ain't a-watchin' ez I go.Climbin' of de fence so 's not to click de latchMeks my gittin' in a little slow.Watermelon smilin' as it say, "I' s free;"Alligator boomin', but I let him be,Florida, oh, Florida 's de lan' fu' me—(Lizy Ann a-singin' sweet an' low).
Moon 's a-kinder shaddered on de melon patch;
No one ain't a-watchin' ez I go.
Climbin' of de fence so 's not to click de latch
Meks my gittin' in a little slow.
Watermelon smilin' as it say, "I' s free;"
Alligator boomin', but I let him be,
Florida, oh, Florida 's de lan' fu' me—
(Lizy Ann a-singin' sweet an' low).