Keep A Song Up On De Way

written by


« Reload image

Oh, de clouds is mighty heavy
  An' de rain is mighty thick;
  Keep a song up on de way.
  An' de waters is a rumblin'
  On de boulders in de crick,
  Keep a song up on de way.
  Fu' a bird ercross de road
  Is a-singin' lak he knowed
  Dat we people did n't daih
  Fu' to try de rainy aih
  Wid a song up on de way.

  What's de use o' gittin' mopy,
  Case de weather ain' de bes'!
  Keep a song up on de way.
  W'en de rain is fallin' ha'des',
  Dey 's de longes' times to res'
  Keep a song up on de way.
  Dough de plough 's a-stan'in' still
  Dey 'll be watah fu' de mill,
  Rain mus' come ez well ez sun
  'Fo' de weathah's wo'k is done,
  Keep a song up on de way.

  W'y hit's nice to hyeah de showahs
  Fallin' down ermong de trees:
  Keep a song up on de way.
  Ef de birds don' bothah 'bout it,
  But go singin' lak dey please,
  Keep a song up on de way.
  You don' s'pose I's gwine to see
  Dem ah fowls do mo' dan me?
  No, suh, I 'll des chase dis frown,
  An' aldough de rain fall down,
  Keep a song up on de way.

© Paul Laurence Dunbar