Long Ago

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De ol' time's gone, de new time's hyeah
  Wid all hits fuss an' feddahs;
  I done fu'got de joy an' cheah
  We knowed all kin's o' weddahs,
  I done fu'got each ol'-time hymn
  We ust to sing in meetin';
  I 's leahned de prah's, so neat an' trim,
  De preachah keeps us 'peatin'.

  Hang a vine by de chimney side,
  An' one by de cabin do';
  An' sing a song fu' de day dat died,
  De day of long ergo.

  My youf, hit's gone, yes, long ergo,
  An' yit I ain't a-moanin';
  Hit 's fu' somet'ings I ust to know
  I set to-night a-honin'.
  De pallet on de ol' plank flo',
  De rain bar'l und' de eaves,
  De live oak 'fo' de cabin do',
  Whaih de night dove comes an' grieves.

  Hang a vine by de chimney side,
  An' one by de cabin do';
  An' sing a song fu' de day dat died,
  De day of long ergo.

  I 'd lak a few ol' frien's to-night
  To come an' set wid me;
  An' let me feel dat ol' delight
  I ust to in dey glee.
  But hyeah we is, my pipe an' me,
  Wid no one else erbout;
  We bofe is choked ez choked kin be,
  An' bofe 'll soon go out.

  Hang a vine by de chimney side,
  An' one by de cabin do';
  An' sing a song fu' de day dat died,
  De day of long ergo.

© Paul Laurence Dunbar