Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922.

’Weh Down Souf

O, DE BIRDS ar’ sweetly singin’,

’Weh down Souf,

An’ de banjer is a-ringin’,

’Weh down Souf;

An’ my heart it is a-sighin’,

Whil’ de moments am a-flyin’,

Fur my hom’ I am a-cryin’,

’Weh down Souf.

Dar de pickaninnies ’s playin’,

’Weh down Souf,

An’ fur dem I am a-prayin’,

’Weh down Souf;

An’ when I gits sum munny,

Yo’ kin bet I’m goin’, my hunny,

Fur de lan’ dat am so sunny,

’Weh down Souf.

Whil’ de win’ up here’s a-blowin’,

’Weh down Souf

De corn is sweetly growin’,

’Weh down Souf.

Dey tells me here ub freedum,

But I ain’t a-gwine to heed um,

But I’se gwine fur to lebe um,

Fur ’weh down Souf.

I bin up here a-wuckin’,

From ’weh down Souf,

An’ I ain’t a bin a-shurkin’—

I’m frum ’weh down Souf;

But I’m gittin’ mighty werry,

An’ de days a-gittin’ drerry,

An’ I’m hongry, O, so berry,

Fur my hom’ down Souf.

O, de moon dar shines de brighter,

’Weh down Souf,

An’ I know my heart is lighter,

’Weh down Souf;

An’ de berry thought brings pledjur,

I’ll be happy dar’dout medjur,

Fur dar I hab my tredjur,

’Weh down Souf.