Li'l' Gal

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Oh, de weathah it is balmy an' de breeze is sighin' low.
  Li'l' gal,
  An' de mockin' bird is singin' in de locus' by de do',
  Li'l' gal;
  Dere 's a hummin' an' a bummin' in de lan' f'om eas' to wes',
  I 's a-sighin' fu' you, honey, an' I nevah know no res'.
  Fu' dey 's lots o' trouble brewin' an' a-stewin' in my breas',
  Li'l' gal.

  Whut 's de mattah wid de weathah, whut's de mattah wid de breeze,
  Li'l' gal?
  Whut 's de mattah wid de locus' dat 's a-singin' in de trees,
  Li'l' gal?
  W'y dey knows dey ladies love 'em, an' dey knows dey love 'em true,
  An' dey love 'em back, I reckon, des' lak I 's a-lovin' you;
  Dat 's de reason dey 's a-weavin' an' a-sighin', thoo an' thoo,
  Li'l' gal.

  Don't you let no da'ky fool you 'cause de clo'es he waihs is fine,
  Li'l' gal.
  Dey 's a hones' hea't a-beatin' unnerneaf dese rags o' mine,
  Li'l' gal.
  Cose dey ain' no use in mockin' whut de birds an' weathah do,
  But I 's so'y I cain't 'spress it w'en I knows I loves you true,
  Dat 's de reason I 's a-sighin' an' a-singin now fu' you,
  Li'l' gal.

© Paul Laurence Dunbar