75. A contraband song.
The following lyric is the favorite freedom song of the Mississippi contrabands. Its character and enthusiasm are great, and It is a good specimen of contraband genius:
old Shady.
Oh! ya, ya! darkies, laugh with me;
For de white folks say old Shady's free!
Don't you see dat de jubilee
Is comina, comina! Hail, mighty day!
chorus.
Den away, den away, for I can't stay any longer;
Hurrah, hurrah! for I am going home. [Repeat.
Massa got scared, and so did his lady!
Dis chile broke for ole Uncle Aby!
Open de gates out! here's ole Shady,
Comina, comina! Hail, mighty day!
Den away, den away, etc.
Good-by, Massa Jeff! good-by, Misses Stevens!
Scuse dis nigger for taking his leavins;
‘Spec, pretty soon, you'll see Uncle Abram's
Comina, comina! Hail, mighty day!
Den away, den away, etc.
Good-by, hard work, and never any pay--
I'm goina up North, where the white folks stay;
White wheat-bread and a dollar a day.
Comina, comina! Hail, mighty day!
Den away, den away, etc.
I've got a wife, and she's got a baby,
Way up North in Lower Canady--
Won't dey shout when dey see ole Shady
Comina, comina! Hail, mighty day!
Den away, den away, etc.
