A Summer Night

Summah is de lovin' time--     Do' keer what you say.     Night is allus peart an' prime,     Bettah dan de day.     Do de day is sweet an' good,     Birds a-singin' fine,     Pines a-smellin' in de wood,--     But de night is mine.     Rivah whisperin' "howdy do,"     Ez it pass you by--     Moon a-lookin' down at you,     Winkin' on de sly.     Frogs a-croakin' f'om de pon',     Singin' bass dey fill,     An' you listen way beyon'     Ol' man whippo'will.     Hush up, honey, tek my han'     Mek yo' footsteps light;     Somep'n' kin' o' hol's de lan'     On a summah night.     Somep'n' dat you nevah sees     An' you nevah hyeahs,     But you feels it in de breeze,     Somep'n' nigh to teahs.     Somep'n' nigh to teahs? dat's so;     But hit's nigh to smiles.     An' you feels it ez you go     Down de shinin' miles.     Tek my han', my little dove;     Hush an' come erway--     Summah is de time fu' love,     Night-time beats de day!