Waverley Turner Carmichael, "From the Heart of a Folk" (Full Text) (1918)
FROM THE HEART OF A FOLK
A BOOK OF SONGS
BY
WAVERLEY TURNER CARMICHAEL
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
JAMES HOLLY HANFORD
BOSTON
THE CORNHILL COMPANY
COPYRIGHT 1918
BY THE CORNfflLL COMPANY
INTRODUCTION
When Waverley Carmichael, as a student in
my summer class at Harvard, brought me one
day a modest sheaf of his poems, I felt that in
him a race had become or at least was becoming
articulate. We have had, it is true, sympa
thetic portrayals of Negro life and feeling from
without; we have had also the poems of Dun-
bar, significant of the high capabilities of the
Negro as he advances far along the way of
civilization and culture. The note which is
sounded in this little volume is of another sort.
These humble and often imperfect utterances
have sprung up spontaneously from the soul of a
primitive and untutored folk. The rich emo
tion, the individual humor, the simple wisdom,
the naive faith which are its birthright, have
here for the first time found voice. It is suffi
cient to say of Waverley Carmichael that he is
a full blooded southern negro, that until last
summer he has never been away from his
native Alabama, that he has had but the most
limited advantages of education, and that he
has shared the portion of his race in hardship,
poverty, and toil. He does not know why he
wrote these poems. It is an amazing thing
that he should have done so a freak, we may
call it, of the wind of genius, which bloweth
where it listeth and singles out one in ten thou
sand to find a fitting speech for the dumb
thought and feeling of the rest.
But we need not base the claim of Carmichael
to the attention of the public merely on con-
Ivii]
siderations of this sort. His work speaks for
itself. It is original and sincere. It follows
no traditions and suffers no affectation. It is
artless, yet it reaches the goal of art. The
rhythms, especially of some of the religious
pieces, are of a kind which is beyond the reach
of effort. He has rightly called them melodies.
Occasionally there is, it seems to me, a touch of
something higher, as in the haunting refrain of
the lyric " Winter is Coming."
De yaller leafs are falling fas
Fur summer days is been and pas ;
The air is blowin mighty cold,
Like it done in days of old.
But this is rare. Oftenest the characteristic
note is humor, or tender melancholy relieved
by a philosophy of cheer and courage, and the
poetic virtue is that of simple truth. We are
reminded of no poet so strongly as of Burns.
What Waverley Carmichael may accomplish
in the future I do not know. But certainly
in this volume he has entitled himself to the
gratitude of his own race and to the sympathetic
appreciation of all who have its interests and
those of true poetry at heart.
JAMES HOLLY HANFORD.
viii ]
CONTENTS
FACE
Mammy's Baby Scared 3
Taint No Need o Women Worrin 4
I Ain t Turn Sussie Out 6
De Signs o Spring 8
The Old Mill 9
It's All Through Life 10
Eligia, the Bad Boy 11
Scolding Baby Boy 12
The Escort 13
The Night I Went to Church 14
Sleep On Ye Happy Sons 16
The Day of Freedom 17
My Little Cabin Home . 18
The Lover s Spat 19
Snow Hill 21
The Invitation 22
A Word to Ethiopia 23
Booker T. Washington 24
Paul Lawrence Dunbar 25
I Am Ma an Papa Baby 26
The Flower 27
When the Different Churches Meet 28
I Use ter Ores 29
Where Hearts Are Gay 30
Home Instruction 31
The New Year's Resolve 32
Labor On 33
Forget Me Not 34
Annoyance 35
Der Fiddle Is My Comfort 36
The Favorite Diet 37
Good After Ill 38
The Prayer of the Faithful 39
A Daily Prayer 40
Keep Me, Jesus, Keep Me 41
Run on Home 42
Sing on to Jesus 43
Seek the Lost 44
"You'll Reap What You Sow " 45
CONTENTS
FAOt
Move On 46
The Departure . . 47
Twas Mother . . 49
The Mother s Farewell to Her Son . 50
Take Me Home .51
The Day of Repentance 52
What Have I Done .53
When the Way Seems Dark .... ... 54
In the Hour of Death 55
Eventide 56
Winter Is Coming 57
The Combat 58
Red, White, and Blue 59
Sing Out for Peace 60
FROM THE HEART OF A FOLK
MAMMY'S BABY SCARED
Hush now, mammy s baby scaid,
Don it cry, eat yo bread;
Nothin aint goin bother you,
Does , it bothers mammy too.
Mammy aint goin left it lone
Wile de chulen all are gone;
Hush, now, don it cry no mo e,
Aint goin lay it on de flo .
Hush now, finish out yo nap,
Wile I make yo luttle cap;
Blessid luttle sugar-pie,
Hush now, baby, don it cry.
Mammy s goin to make its dres ,
Go to sleep an take yo res ;
Hush now, don it cry no mo e,
Aint goin lay you on de flo .
[3]
" TAINT NO NEED O WOMEN
WORRIN "
Taint no need o women worrin bout dese
sorry men,
Dey just lack a paper bag w en it s full o win ;
Dey will call us sugar-pie an will treat us nice
Till dey git us horn wid dem, fur to be dere
wife;
T ings will go long very well, fur a week er two,
Den you ll see em sittin roun frownin atter
you;
Taint a bit o need o worrin bout dese sorry
men,
Dey just lack a paper bag w en it s full o win .
W en dey walk erlong wid you holdin ter yo
arm,
Don t you mind em, dats a stunt, dey are full
o harm;
Dey kin tell de biggest lies mos you ever
seen,
An kin pet an honey you lack you wus a
queen;
One caught up wid me las night strutin wid a
cane,
Rais d is hat an gine a bow, " How d do Mis
Lizer Jane ";
I didn axe him how he done, dat was a hint to
him
Dat I pufur d a paper bag w en it s full o
win .
[4]
Tis best to keep yo yes one dem dey ll fool you
if dey kin,
Den go eroun an make dere brag to all de other
men;
Dey ll come eroun an talk sweet talk an wont
let you res ,
But let em git you fur a wife dey ll beat you
outer bre th
Wen you see dat dey aint no good just let em
pas on by,
C ase sho as you fool long wid dem, dem fools
11 make you cry,
Taint no use o women worrin bout dese sorry
men,
Fur dey just lack a paper bag w en it s full o
win .
If I eber marry one, he sho s got to work,
Fo I ain t goin kill myself w le he sit an shirk;
Many women are today almos in dere graves
C ase dey work demselves to de th lack dey
wus all slaves;
Say, w at you t ink of Jaboc Quinn, he is
mighty nice
An you kno I s promis d him I would be is
wife;
Let me Stop my crazy talk, I kno I love de men,
If dey are lack a paper bag, w en it s full o win .
I AINT TURN SUSSIE OUT
" Hoi on, what you mean
By walkin wid a man?
Bet I ll knock you to de groun ,
An roll you in de san .
Wat you look like tryin ter court,
I aint yet turn you out;
Look out Miss you er mighty fas ,
Mind what you erbout.
" Young man you better go on horn
Befo e you make me mad,
Cause I ll git ter fightin hyeah,
An sayin somethin bad;
Dis gal aint ole ernough ter court,
No, I aint turn her out;
You s mighty high, I likes you nerve,
Mine what yo s erbout.
" I want it stric ly understood,
Dat you can t court my daughter,
If I kech you wid hur ergain
You ll move off like an auter;
Dis Bama Jones you foolin wid,
I aint no scrubby nigger,
My mammy sho sent me ter school,
An I kin read an figger.
[6]
" Wat you rec on I look like,
Lettin setch a thing as you
Walk long side a gal o mine
An especi lly little Sue?
Take dat road an go on horn ,
Fo e yo* nigger make me mad,
Else I ll git to fightin hyeah,
An sayin somethin bad."
171
DE SIGNS O SPRING
Wen de thrushes in de tree
Gins to sing a merry song,
Its a putty good ole sign
Dat de winter days aint long.
Wen de trees begin to bud
In de meadow far an near;
You kin put yo foot erpoun it
Dat spring time is comin hyeah.
All de flowers in de woods
Gins to look so sweet an dear;
An de darkies all are singin
Cause dey kno dat spring is hyeah.
Wen de days are growin warm,
You kin hyeah de voices clear
O er de meadow far an wide,
Gladly savin " spring is hyeah."
[8]
THE OLD MILL
Near de margin of de stream
Neath a towerin hill,
In the field s shadow and gleam,
Stands de dear ole mill;
Ye re have come an pass d erway
Since she took her stand,
Near de stream dat slowly glides
O er the gleamin sand.
Rain has fall n an win has bio
Gainst her mossy walls;
An she tosses to an fro
As the win about her falls;
Tossin frum de early morn
Till de eventide
Near the margin of de stream
Were de shinin water glide.
Dear to one an true to all
As she lifts her ole wo n head,
Toilin ebery day but one
Makin daily bread;
An she toils and murmurs not
In de wea ther that betides,
Neath de shadow of de hill
Were de ole stream glides.
IT S ALL THROUGH LIFE
A day of joy, a week of pain,
A sunny day, a week of rain;
A day of peace, a year of strife;
But cling to Him, it s all through life.
An hour of joy, a day of fears,
An hour of smiles, a day of tears;
An hour of gain, a day of strife,
Press on, press on, it s all through life.
[10]
ELIGIA, THE BAD BOY
" Jest look at em e got on my dres
" Sister Fannie is e got on yo dres ? "
" Yes! an e got my shoes."
" Well cetch de little devil an beat em good,
If I jest could see em I ould beat em ter
de th."
" Well Isac e got on my hat."
" Doggon it; is e got yo hat? "
" Yes! an e got on my dres . "
" Well cetch de little scamp an gea yo bes ;
If I jest could see em I ould beat em ter
de th."
" Confound d e got on my specks."
" Don tell me e got on yo specks! "
" Yes! an e got on my hat."
" Well cetch de little scamp an beat im good
If I jest could see em I ould beat em to
de th."
SCOLDING BABY BOY
Wats de matter wid you boy,
Hush an eat dat bread,
Fo e I take dis firer stick
Crack you side de head.
Act like you aint got no sense,
Bawlin like a fool;
Wallowin doun dere on de flo ,
Like you was a mule.
I s goin tell you now in time
You can have your way;
Runnin all ercross de house,
Hollerin all de day.
Bet not have me spank you boy,
Hush sar, stop dat cryin ;
Set doun dere sar on dat chest,
Scrape dat melPyon rine.
[12]
THE ESCORT
I went horn wid me gal las night
Dat darlin little mis ,
An time we start off frum de church
I ask d hur fur a Ids ;
She drapp d hur head an kind o blush
Den say, " I recon so ";
I kis d hur bout a dozen times
An den she ask d fur mo .
I felt like I wus Vanderbuilt
Gwine walkin long so calm,
W ie Anges Lee dat darlin maid
Wus leanin on my arm.
Erbout two miles frum church she live,
I didn t mind de walk;
I wus over glad to go wid hur
So we could laugh an talk.
We walk long veary slo you kno
As lovers generally does,
She promis d dat she would be mine
I promis d to be hurs;
W en we go to hur mammy s gate
Dat darlin little mis ,
Jest throw hur arms eroun my neck
An greet me wid a kis .
[13]
THE NIGHT I WENT TO CHURCH
I went to church de other night,
Dat preacher sho did preach,
Till ebery body in de church
Wus standin on dere feet;
Aunt Susan went an caught is han
An bow d an jump an bio ;
Atter w ile she gine a jerk,
An snatch d im to de flo .
Aunt Susan said, " scuse me,
De spirit s wid me now,
I wants to git ole Satin out
An chaise im fur a roun ";
De preacher look d eroun an said,
" Dat spirit sho am strong;
Next time you keep it in yo han
Ca se dat s where it belong."
Aunt Lottie stood right by my side
An holler d, " Aint dat so ";
Dan she gine one dem holy jumps
An land doun on my toe;
I jump d an fell ercross a bench,
Amen, amen, dey cry;
Den some one jump d erpon dat bench,
An struck me in de eye.
Wen meetin broke I started horn ,
Religin on my min ;
I looks back down de lonesome road
A shape wus right behin
[14]
Dat s jest bout twice as tall as me,
An seem as w ite as sno ;
Wen he got right long by my side,
He say " good evenin Joe."
Den boy, I hit a lickin pace
An run wid all my might;
I quit de road an took de trail
Dat leads off to de right
Fur bout a mile I burn de win ,
Den I wus veary tir d;
I sot doun on a log to res ,
He eased doun by my side.
Up oft dat log I gine a leap,
An tried my bes to fly;
He reach d an caught me by de hair,
Hit look lak I would die;
I leap ercross de fishin creek
An I gine a whoop an squall;
I us comin through dem piney woods
Jes lak a rifle ball.
[15J
SLEEP ON YE HAPPY SONS
Sleep on ye happy sons
Beneath the trodden soil;
Sleep on in Paradise,
Tis there ye have no toil.
Ye served your country well,
When she was most in need;
And planted in her bowers,
A pure and worthy seed.
Ye gave to us the right
To live as others live;
For this we do adore,
And to ye honor give.
Sleep on ye happy sons
Within your silent grave;
Sleep on in Paradise
Among the good and brave
[16]
THE DAY OF FREEDOM
It wus one day bout one erclock,
I nuver will forgit it;
De niggers all wus jumpin roun,
Jest like a drove o crickits.
" We done got free at las " dey cried,
An dey wus jest a singin ;
Could hyeah the soun o niggers voice,
All through de woods a ringin .
I cut de ole time " pigion wing "
Den start on " twistfurcation "
Fur twas de only way I kno
To have my celerb ration.
Sis Juddie jine me in the dance
An den we went to swingin ,
Wile people pat dere hands an sung
Like bells in heaben ringin .
It was a grand an mighty day
Wen all dat host of menses,
Came ridin to ole masser yard
An toe doun all de fenceses;
Den dey begin to bio dem horns
An horses wus a prancin ,
I threw dat child doun out my lap
An man I went to dancin .
[17]
MY LITTLE CABIN HOME
Not a place on earth I kno
Dat I love as well
As my little cabin horn*
Where I use ter dwell;
Through de woods I use ter go
Huntin fur de coon;
Walkin by oh greamin light
Of de silver moon.
Many days I play d erbout
Neath de shady trees;
Where I hear d de hummin sound
Of de buisy bees:
Dearest little cabin home,
Yes, I love you still;
I kin see you in my dreams
Sittin on de hill.
[18]
THE LOVER S SPAT
My darlin I sho love you
But you don treat me right;
W a make you let dat guy go
Back horn* wid you las night?
You kno dat thing got way wid me
Wen you did me excuse;
I want to be wid you so bad
To hyeah de lattes news.
You sho did build some bridge las night,
Yer built it cross my nose;
You said you thought a lot of me
To tute me I supose:
I kno ole Dick done been eround
An make is gread big brag;
Cause all de boys dat lives eround
Is got me fur a gag.
Why don you be a lady true
An love one at a time,
Dis flirtin am a dangerous thing,
An too it is a crime;
It make me sick doun in my heart
Wen I think how you done,
If I ketch Dick wid you ergain
Somebody sho goin run.
He goes to be a mighty " tush "
But I s not scared o him;
If ever I lay hands on Dick
I ll beat him out er win ;
[19]
Hush! don you say a thing to me
You s almos made me sick
You play setch trick wid me ergain
I ll gea you nough o Dick.
Come hyeah honey to yo love,
Hush now baby, don it cry;
Aint goin hurt my choc late drop,
Blessid little sugar pie.
I don kno w at I would do
Dout my little Miss;
Let me hug you one more time
An gea you a kiss.
[20]
SNOW HILL
A mother true, a mother wise
This is the name she bears;
She s sowing truth throughout the land,
To serve in coming years.
Upon the hearts of earnest youths
Who march to her bright dawn,
She is writing there a precious theme;
Sing, pray and labor on.
A mother who is walking down
The narrow rugged lane,
To reach the goal which stands afar
In everlasting fame.
Though trials come on every side,
Her aim is bright and true;
Through storms our mother will endure
And make our lives anew.
A mother dear, a mother true
This mother is Snow Hill;
Whose lesson is to labor on
And do our Sovereign s will.
And well thou knowest mother mine
That life is not all ease
Thus there may st suffer many pain
While bringing in the sheaves.
[21]
THE INVITATION
A week ergo, las Wednesday night
I got an invitation;
To visit Parson Davis home
Wile off on my vacation.
I started two days in advance
To make all preparation;
So when I walked into de house
Dey ould see my decoration.
I look my black suit through an through
An gine to it a cleanin ;
Dat almos hurt dem people s eyes,
Cause it had setch a gleamin .
De night came on for me to fill
Dat most distinct engagement;
You kno dose envious Johnson boys
Tried to break up my rangement.
Dey told er many different things
Which all prov d to be fakers;
Cause every body know dem boys
To be good faker makers.
I gine myself an early start
To take a good neat dressin ;
So when I face dem putty maids
I ould make a good impressin .
I made a good impressin too
I won de heart o Mammie;
An jest had been a luttle mo
I ould stole de heart o Channie.
[22]
A WORD TO ETHIOPIA
No race has had such chilly days
As thou, O Mother race;
Nor had the veil of darkness drawn
Before its lonely face;
What pains and sorrows thou hast had
Through these lamenting years;
What burdens given thee to bear,
What griefs and bitter tears.
No race could bear this heavy load
As thou, and not have died;
Fate cast thee on a mighty sea,
Swept by a raging tide.
Thy sons have known but toil and woe
O noble Mother race;
Suffering snares on every side,
And insults to the face.
Tis better that thou struggle on,
O ravished Mother race;
For neath the skies where others dwell
Thou lt win a worthy place.
Though it is dark, go on and on
O Mother race of mine;
For ere thy distant goal is won
Glory will on thee shine.
[23]
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
Washington, true noble son
Of Ethiopia s pride;
Over the land thy deeds have flown
On fame s rising tide.
What a shelter your hands built
In the land of flowers
That the lowly may enjoy
Bright and happy hours.
How faithful was your toil for us,
O Ethiopia s star;
What struggles you have had for us
In life s great war.
Your life was all of care and toil,
Each hour, each night and day;
You cleared the forest of life for us
And made an open way.
Sleep on, O hero, and find rest
In that bright home above;
Rest from your labors and your toil,
And know your people s love.
[24]
PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR
O Dunbar! the son of everlasting fame,
Thou served st thy race, thy country-men, but
not in vain;
The everlasting lessons thou hast taught
Are lights by which our fortunes may be
wrought;
Thy songs we sing o er rugged hill and plains,
Dost soothe our daily heartaches and our pains.
Thou marched into the world among the brave,
And all the way was forward to thy early grave;
Toiling each day for those that never knew;
Inspiring them to live serene and true;
Thou wast the guide on pathways we must go,
The mighty teacher who taught us dreams to
sow.
Oh, Dunbar, the son of Ethiopian blood,
Thou soarest above life s raging tides and flood;
Rest in thy peace beyond the distant sky,
Thy memory is in our hearts never to die.
Dunbar, Dunbar! of everlasting fame,
Thy service we honor and thy genius claim!
[25]
I AM MA AN PAPA BABY
Go way from me an le me lone,
You worry me to death;
If you jest pull my year ergain
I ll beat you out er breath;
I want you kno jest who I am;
I aint nobody crazy ;
Go way frum me an le me lone,
I am ma an papa baby.
You come eround an play wid me
So you kin eat my bread;
An ebery time you git a chance
You bump me gain de head.
I is tired puttin up wid you,
You say dat I is crazy;
You must be fool, you little brat,
I am ma an papa baby.
You wan be still, look at you now,
Jes grinnin like a cat;
Confoun yo little crazy time,
Don set right on my hat.
I is goin horn erway frum you,
You ack lack you is crazy;
I don want you ter play wid me,
I am ma an papa baby.
[26]
THE FLOWER
A pretty little flower
Stood smiling on the way;
And welcomed every traveler,
On a bright sunny day.
It seemed to smile and whisper
To those who passed it by,
And say, " My little children
Why do you weep and cry."
" Come take me as thy comfort,
For tis my mission here
To cheer the weak and weary
And help their burden bear.
" We all may be a flower
Along life s path of night,
And scatter there bright sunshine,
That men may walk in light."
[27-]
WHEN THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES
MEET
You talkin bout a time in toun,
It was in las September;
Wen all de different churches roun
Came hyeah wid ebery member.
Sis Fannie frum de Hard shell church
Wus pointed by de men;
To sing dat good ole song of deres,
Dey call dere fav rite hymn.
Sis Bettie frum de Meth dist church
Was pointed by de quir
To sing dat good ole Meth dist hymn,
Till she had made em cry.
But Ned from Shiloah Baptis church,
Wus pointed by de board,
To sing dat good ole Baptis song,
Dat glorify de Lord
An man, dey done some singin to,
I want to tell you dat;
It made Sis Hannah Bonner shout
Till she tored up her hat.
[28]
I USE TER ORES
Wen I wus a courtin man
My, I used to dres ;
I wouldn t go to see a gal
Unless I wore a ves*.
I wore dem locus bussom shirts
An had em w ite as sno ;
I have had four o dem putty studs
All strung doun in a ro .
I had a long Prince Albert coat
Dat cam down ter me knee,
An w en I got ter dancin roun
It hum jes like a bee.
I member once I had a hat
Dat temp d gals passin by,
An w en I put dat rascal on
It made de fellers cry.
I see youal wear yo English suit.
Done quit lox lack an peg;
Yo britchins fit you like yo skin,
An come half way you leg.
You s got to many styles fur me
An none don worth a cent;
You d better kept dat money, boy,
To spen for pork an rent.
[29]
WHERE HEARTS ARE GAY
Way doun South where de wild rose grows
By de stream as de water flows,
Gently through de ca m bright night
Neath de twinklin starry light;
Tripple, tripple, night an day,
Dats where hearts are gay.
Way doun South where de robins sing
Through de fair bright days of spring,
Mong de growin lilies fair,
Where de fragrance fills de air,
W ile de sunbeams dance an play,
Dats where hearts are gay.
Way doun South where de ruslin cane
Makes a joyful, sweet refrain,
As de coolin breezes bio
Through de meadow to an fro;
Way doun horn , in de South I say,
Dats where hearts are gay.
Way doun South in de silent grave
Sleep de noble an de brave;
From dere labor an dere toil,
Restin safe in de homeland soil;
Where de sunbeams dance an play,
Dats where hearts are gay.
[30]
HOME INSTRUCTION
Wen a lady gea you bread
You say, " Thank you mam ";
She may gea you something mo ,
Ha s a slice of ham.
Wen you meet em in de road
Gea yo hat a raise;
Make a bow an speech to dem
But don stop an gaize.
Wen you see a door is shut
Gea a rap or two;
Something like dis, rap, rap, rap!
Dats de way to do.
If dey vite you in to eat,
Don eat wid yo han ;
Use yo knife, yo fork an spoon,
Like a little man.
You mus try to be perlite
Every way you go;
Dats de kind o seed to choose,
An de kind to so .
[31]
THE NEW YEAR S RESOLVE
Another year has passed away,
The New Year comes, but not to stay;
I will put my cares on Jesus Christ,
When the Old with the New Year makes
tryst.
Within all evil thoughts shall die,
And holy ones yearn toward the sky;
Then all my griefs shall pass away,
And every day be a holy day.
I have blundered Lord along the road,
But now I walk with lightened load;
Help me to keep that which is right
Beginning on this New Year s night.
[32J
N LABOR ON
Labor w ile the sun is bright,
Pray an labor on;
Labor on wid earnest hearts
Till de day is gone;
Labor dough de clouds be lo ,
Labor dough de work be hard,
Pray an labor on.
Labor w ile de day is fair;
Sing an labor on;
Labor fur a wurthy cause,
March an labor on;
Labor not fur self alone,
Labor fur yo brother too,
Sing an labor on.
Labor dough de win may bio ,
Labor all de day;
He will sho you w at to do
An prepare de way;
Labor fo de sun is down,
Labor fur a righteous crown,
Pray an labor on.
Labor dough de day be long,
Fight an labor on;
Labor fur a happy horn ,
Pray an labor on ;
Labor dough de way be dark,
Pray to Him wid earnest heart,
Sing an labor on.
[33]
FORGET ME NOT
Will you think of me my dear,
Wile I am erway?
I am goin fur frum you,
But I cannot stay.
Wen I think of leavin you,
I sit doun an cry;
Thinkin w at I m goin to do,
Wen I say goodbye.
Love is treasured in my heart,
An its all fur you;
I will ever think of you,
An I will be true.
Wen I have return to you,
I don t want to tarry;
If you really care fur me,
We will go an marry.
Will you truly promise me
Wen I cease to roam,
That you ll come and live wid me
In a lovin home?
Think of me my little dear
Wile I am erway;
An set de erpointed time
Fur de weddin day.
[34]
ANNOYANCE
Hush! I hyeah a mighty singin
Over on de hill,
Goodness, wish you stop yo fuss,
An learn to be still.
Singin soundin mighty good,
Wish I could be dere,
Sit doun dere an hush yo mouth,
An plat up yo hair.
You can t hyeah me w en I talk
Can t you keep still som ?
W en I git through wid you Mis ,
You will go frum horn.
I can t hyeah a single thing,
Dat goes on eroun ,
Fur you makin all yo noise,
You are out er boun .
Ebery night you sit eroun ,
Hollerin like a fool;
I s goin buy a book fur you,
An send you to school.
I don want yer growin up
So much like a nigger;
You must le rn to read an write,
Cypher, add, an figger.
Dere are nuff o peoples now,
Who can t read an write;
You mus stop yo nigger ways,
An act like you white.
[35]
DER FIDDLE IS MY
COMFORT
Wen I wake up in der morn
Feelin kind o tir d an sad,
I begin to sing a song
Dat will make me kind o glad;
Dis ole fiddle is my comfort,
In de mornin an at noon,
You kin hyeah de strings a singin,
In a high an lodious tune.
Wen I stop my work at twelve,
Wet wid sweat an hungry too,
I jest play till Milly come
An say Silas, dat will do.
Dis s a good ole piece to play,
Twas my daddy s-daddy s song,
An tis as good an sweet
As de honey in de corn.
Ebery night befo e I sleep
You kin hyeah de fiddle strin ,
Playin out so loud an sweet
On de current of de win .
Milly, she jest sit an listen
Wid de children on hur knee;
To de fiddle as it whistle
Lack a luttle chicakadee.
[36]
THE FAVORITE DIET
I don ker bout yo cake an pie,
An ne ther bout yo chicken;
I wouldn t give a dime fur all
Dat you have in yo kitchen;
Wen I come doun to visit you,
I ll eat what please the masses;
Make t ings as common as you kin,
An gea me bread an lasses.
Folks talk erbout dere po k an ham,
An dat bolognial sausage;
But I purfer dat sweeten t ing
Dat pou s out through ah fausage;
Wen I sit doun to eat a meal,
No matter tis what passes,
Dere s nothin dat will suit my taste,
Lack good ole bread an lasses.
I sho enjoy d my supper here,
It wus so nice an fine;
A luttle cake an cream will do
To suit this taste of mine.
In spite of all de cake an cream,
Upon your table passes,
I wish dat you had brought to me
A plate of bread an lasses.
[37]
GOOD AFTER ILL
Win s are blowin on ahaid us,
Rain is fallin fas ;
Never mind it, keep er goin ,
Soon it all will pas .
We may git a little tirid
Fo e we reach de end;
But jest take a little courage,
Ebery now and den.
We may have a many ackin
An a many pain;
But remember dat ole sayin
" Sunshine after rain."
We may see a many days
Dat we think are night;
But we kno dat after darkness
Dere will be a light.
[38 :
THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Jesus my King in Thee I trust
With all my soul and heart;
Within Thy footsteps I will walk
And never will depart.
Jesus the source of all my strength,
The light by which I see;
Help me to praise Thy Holy name
Till I am home with Thee.
[39]
A DAILY PRAYER
Help me O Lord, to face the coming foes,
Help me I pray to win;
Teach me the wisdom of the age,
And keep me free from sin.
When darkness dwells along my rugged path,
Help me to fight and pray;
And sing Thy psalms, though Thee I may not
see,
Until the dawn of day.
Keep me O Lord, within Thy shepherd s fold,
Keep me beneath Thy wing;
Guide me until I reach the blissful shore,
Where I will see my King.
[40]
KEEP ME, JESUS KEEP ME
Keep me neath Thy mighty wing,
Keep me, Jesus keep me;
Help me praise Thy Holy name,
Keep me, Jesus keep me.
O my Lamb, come my Lamb,
O my good Lamb,
Save me, Jesus, save me.
Hear me as I cry to Thee;
Keep me, Jesus keep me;
May I that bright glory see;
Keep me, Jesus, keep me.
O my Lamb, my good Lamb,
O my good Lamb,
Keep me, Jesus, keep me.
[41]
RUN ON HOME
(Melody)
Don t you hyeah de masser callin ,
Come on children, come on horn ;
Run ca se yonder s mount is fallin ,
Run on children, run on horn ;
Come on to yo Jesus, run on to yo horn 1 ,
Lay yo heavy burden doun,
Run on, run on horn .
He is waitin to receive yo ,
Come on children, come on horn ;
All he say to yo is true,
Run on children, run on horn .
Run on to yo Jesus, run on to yo horn ,
Run bef oe ole Satin come,
Come on, come on horn .
Hyeah Him He is softly callin ,
Come on children, come on horn ;
Run ca se yonder s mount is fallin ,
Run on children, run on horn ;
Run on to yo Jesus, run on to yo hom\
Run ca se yonder s rocks will fall,
Run on, run on horn .
[42]
SING ON TO JESUS
(Melody)
Come on children, sing a song of praise;
Sing on, sing on to Jesus.
He is risen from the lonely grave;
Sing on, sing on to Jesus.
Sing on, pray on, Jesus still lives;
Sing on, pray on, Jesus still lives;
Fight on, march on, till the dawn of day;
Fight on, march on, don t forget to pray.
Sing on children, he is gone above;
Sing on, sing on, to Jesus;
Walk and live in His abiding love;
Sing on, sing on, to Jesus.
Come on children, march around the walls;
Sing on, sing on, to Jesus;
Yonder walls soon will rock and fall;
Sing on, sing on, to Jesus.
Sing on, pray on, Jesus still lives;
Sing on, pray on, Jesus still lives;
Fight on, march on, till the dawn of day;
Fight on, march on, don t forget to pray.
[43]
SEEK THE LOST
Hush! tis a voice I hear afar,
Hear ye the doleful cries!
Some one is suffering in the storm,
Go seek him ere he dies.
I pity him in his distress;
He cries under Heaven s dome;
Let s seek until we find the lost,
And bring him safely home.
At last here lies the dying lad,
Come, now, we ll kneel and pray;
Oh! see it is our darling son,
Who long since went astray.
What pain, what grief I suffer now,
As I embrace my son;
Breathing his last and fainting breath
My life, it seems, is done.
There are many sons today are lost
On life s stormy ocean foam;
Let s seek them while they wander lost,
And bring them safely home.
[44]
YOU LL REAP WHAT YOU SOW
If you plant a row of corn
You can t reap no wheat;
If you plant a row o beans
Don t expect a beet.
W en you plant yo sweet pertater
You don look fur beans;
If you plant a row of peas,
You don look fur greens.
If you steal frum any body
Some will steal frum you;
You kin try it if you wan er,
You will find it true.
If we sow a seed o kindes
We will reap de same;
Let us sow dem every day
In our Savior s name.
[45]
MOVE ON
Wen yo life is full o trouble,
Don complain;
We mus have our daily toil,
An* our pain;
Take it as it goes an comes,
Ebery day;
Keep a fightin an a marchin
On de way.
Wen yo load is gettin heavy,
Don give up;
Soon de bitter drugs will go
Frum yo cup;
Don keer how de sun is shinin ,
Walk right on,
Till you take de load you carry,
To yo horn .
Wen de clouds are hangin heavy,
Hurry on;
Try yo best to make it over
To yo horn ;
Never stop to fool erlong,
On de way;
Keep a marchin an a fightin ,
All de day.
[46]
THE DEPARTURE
I am feelin kind o sad
Bout my mother dear,
Though she died an left me hyeah,
Soon will be a year;
It is putty hard an sad
Wen yo mother s cross de foam;
An you cannot hyeah her voice
Nowhere in de horn .
Wen I come in from work
I sit doun an sigh
O er de words she spoke to me
Jes befo she die;
She is gone to heaven s land
Never to return
An she caution d me to live
Ever true an firm.
Who will take me in dere care
Wen I am in trouble;
An will come to cherish me
Wen de mourns are double?
Wen yo mother pass erway
You will have it tough;
As you walk erlong de roads
You will find em rough.
I remember d good an plain
How she use to toil,
Rangin t ings erbout de house
Fur us to enjoy;
[47]
Who will speak a word o cheer
Wen Fs feeling sad,
Cannot say, mother s gone
She wus all I had.
If you stan eroun de bed
Wen yo mother is dyin ,
You can t help frum feelin sad,
An can t keep frum cryin ;
One thing gea me consulation
We will meet ergin,
In de land of joy an res ,
Dat is free from sin.
T48]
TWAS MOTHER
Who rock d me w en I wus a babe,
My mother to be sure;
Who loved me dough I act d rude,
Mother sweet and pure.
Who toil d wid me both night and day,
Mother kind an dear;
Who sought me w en I went estray,
Mother, mother dear.
Who shar d my sorrows every day,
Mother, mother mine;
What taught me how to sing an pray?
Twas Mother s love divine.
Oh mother dear has passed away,
Mother, mother mine;
An bade me come to res wid her,
In Paradise divine!
[49]
THE MOTHER S FAREWELL TO HER
SON
My loving son, my message is
As I bid you goodbye,
That you must ever put your trust
In God until you die.
Here is a jewel I ll give to you,
Retain it through your life
Twill help you when all helpers fail
In overcoming strife.
Take then my son this precious jewel,
It s dear, it s real and pure;
This jewel is these precious words,
Be honest, kind and true.
Your foes may come on every side,
And tempter s powers assail you,
But keep in mind this precious jewel -
Be honest, kind and true.
[50)
TAKE ME HOME
Take me to my horn in Dixie fur erway
Where my mother an de children all are gay,
Take me dere an let me die,
At my mother s side to He.
Wile the good ole preacher come eroun to pray.
Take me to my horn in Dixie bright an fair,
Where de purfum frum de flowers fill de air,
Take me dere to res w en bre th
Weakens to its song of de th,
An dey ring de bell of peace slow and clear.
Take me to my horn in Dixie where I ll res
Till de angles come an call me to de tes ;
Take me dere an let me see
De ole shady hic ry tree,
Where de robin an de sparrow make dere nes .
Take me to my horn in Dixie on de farm
Whar my childhood days were free frum care
and harm;
Take me dere an let me look
At my horn beside de brook,
Where the days went passin free of life s alarm.
Take me to my horn in Dixie where I ll res
Till de angels come an call me to de tes ;
Make fur me a lowly grave
On de hill ermong de brave,
W en dey fold my arms in de th on my bres .
[51 ]
THE DAY OF REPENTANCE
Doun in de valley I went one day
Wid head hung low w ile on my way,
I heard a voice but I could not see,
An it seem d to say dat " God loves me."
Doun in de valley I went one day
Wid a heavy heart w ile on my way,
I heard a song but I could not see,
An it seem d to say, dat " God loves me."
Doun in de valley I knelt an pray,
Askin fur a brighter day;
Wen I raise up I could plainly see
A shinin light, sayin " Come to me."
[52]
WHAT HAVE I DONE
What good deed have I done today
To cheer a weary soul,
That he might feel a touch of love
While struggling toward the goal.
What seed of cheer have I sown today,
To lift the fainting head;
Of a soul that crept along the way
In need of drink and bread?
What psalm of praise have I sung today
To hearts sad of grief and pain,
As they went troubled down the path
In life s merciless rain?
[53]
WHEN THE WAY SEEMS DARK
W en through life the way seems dark,
Look to God an do yo best;
Work wid willin han an heart;
He will give you ceaseless rest.
W en your path is long an rough,
Pressin let yo zeal be shown,
Till you see the King above,
Settin on de golden throne.
Never murmur or complain,
But be thankful fur yo share;
Life is naught without a pain,
Useless without toil and care.
[54J
IN THE HOUR OF DEATH
In de hour of death when all am still,
An de night am dark an col
Wat faintin word can den be heard,
To save our dyin soul?
In de hour of death w en de end am near
An de heart am beatin slo
Wat psalm of praise can de mourner raise
As death raps at de do .
In de hour of death w en de debt am paid
An we breathe de las goodbye
In dat sad day w at can we say
As death un loose de tie.
[55]
EVENTIDE
Softly the shades of evening fall
O er the cheerful hills and vales,
Whispering to the weary eyes
Saying, " lay your burden by;
You have labored at your best,
Go now, take your rest."
Softly the shades of evening fall
O er the heads of every one,
Smiling as they dance and play
O er the merry and the gay;
Saying as they softly creep,
" Go now, take your sleep."
Softly the shades of evening dwell
Till the dawning of the morn,
Smiling as they dance away
From the merry and the gay;
Saying as they softly creep,
" Wake now from your sleep."
[56]
WINTER IS COMING
De winter days are drawin nigh
An by the fire I sets an sigh;
De nothe n win is blowin cold,
Like it done in days of old.
De yaller leafs are fallin fas ,
Fur summer days is been an pas ;
The air is blowin mighty cold,
Like it done in days of old.
De frost is fallin on de gras ,
An seem to say " Dis is yo las
De air is blowin mighty cold
Like it done in days of old.
[57]
THE COMBAT
Wile doun de narrow path o life
I march wid hope to reach de goal
As I attempts to do de thing dats right
Evil gits within my weary soul.
Each day I struggle on through life
As bes I kin to reach de goal,
But when I stops de struggle fo to res*
Evil gits within my weary soul.
[58]
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
Red, white an blue
Gleamin in the air;
Kind, dear an true,
Is de name dey bear.
Red, white an blue,
Flag of mother mine;
Teach us w at to do,
Till de end of time.
Flag of our home
In a foreign air;
Fightin gainst de wrong,
Is yo mission dere.
Flag wid twinklin stars,
May you ever wave,
On yo staff above
All dats good an brave.
[59]
SING OUT FOR PEACE
Sing out, sing clear, the true and brave,
That peace may o er the land prevail;
Sing on in joy with every land,
That peace may come to man.
Sing out, sing loud, the old and young,
Sing all beneath the gleaming sun;
Sing as thou walk st, sing as thou stand st,
That peace may come to man.
Sing out, sing glad, the great and small,
That peace may flourish over all;
Let echoes ring o er every land,
That peace may come to all.
Sing out, sing true, the high and low,
Sing as we on to glory go;
Sing on in joy with every strand,
That peace may come to man.