I woke up this mornin
Bout half-past three.
All the womens in town
Was gathered round me.
Sweet gals was a-moanin,
Sylvesters gonna die!
And a hundred pretty mamas
Bowed their heads to cry.
I woke up little later
Bout half-past fo,
The doctor n undertakers
Both at ma do.
Black gals was a-beggin,
You cant leave us here!
Brown-skins cryin, Daddy!
Honey! Baby! Dont go, dear!
But I felt ma times a-comin,
And I knowd Is dyin fast.
I seed the River Jerden
A-creepin muddy past
But Is still Sweet Papa Vester,
Yes, sir! Long as life do last!
So I hollers, Comere, babies,
Fo to love yo daddy right!
And I reaches up to hug em
When the Lawd put out the light.
Then everything was darkness
In a great ... big ... night.