Classic Poem

Um! de col' win' am blowin', de ole woman pickin' geese,
An' de flakes lack de fedders fills de air,
An' dese po' ole bones am shakin' wid de agy an' rumatiz,
An' dis po' ole heart am heaby, full er care;
But down en de bottom de flowers am en bloom,
An' de mawnin'-glory laughs roun' de do',
An' de gode-vine am er-smilin' her promise ter de well,
Roun' de cabin by de Massysippi sho'.

REFRAIN

Den oh! I'se er-comin'! I kin hear de worter flow —
I'se er-comin' do' I'se ole an' lame an' po',
Fur dere's nuffin' lack de joy, lack de sorrow, dat I knew,
En de cabin by de Massysippi sho'!

I'se comin' frough de shadder, an' comin' frough de sun,
I'se comin' home ter lay me down ter res',
Whar de peckerwood kin call me ebry mawnin' fum de bresh,
An' de mawkin'-bird kin'sing what I lubs bes';
Fur down en de bottom de wortermillion waits,
An' I sees de ole ash-hopper by de do',
An' ole Rube he come ter meet me, an' say " howdy " wid 'e tail
Fum de cabin by de Massysippi sho'.

REFRAIN

Den, oh! I'se er-comin', etc.

An' when Gabul come ter call me, let 'im toot de trumpet loud,
So dat dis po' deef ole nigger's year kin hear;
Fur he 'll sholy fin' me waitin' nigh de grabes ob dem I lubed,
Er-settin' an' er-waitin' fur 'em dere;
Whar de gode-vine am bloomin', an' de mawnin'-glory laughs
At de sunlight dat lays along de flo',
He 'll fin' me ready waitin' in my ole cheer, happy, kase
I'll be waitin' en de cabin by de sho'.

REFRAIN

Den, oh! I'se er-comin', etc.