Skip to content
Linespedia

Joggin' Erlong

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

De da'kest hour, dey allus say,     Is des' befo' de dawn,     But it's moughty ha'd a-waitin'     W'ere de night goes frownin' on;     An' it's moughty ha'd a-hopin'     W'en de clouds is big an' black,     An' all de t'ings you 's waited fu'     Has failed, er gone to wrack--     But des' keep on a-joggin' wid a little bit o' song,     De mo'n is allus brightah w'en de night's been long.     Dey 's lots o' knocks you 's got to tek     Befo' yo' journey 's done,     An' dey 's times w'en you 'll be wishin'     Dat de weary race was run;     W'en you want to give up tryin'     An' des' float erpon de wave,     W'en you don't feel no mo' sorrer     Ez you t'ink erbout de grave--     Den, des' keep on a-joggin' wid a little bit o' song,     De mo'n is allus brightah w'en de night's been long.     De whup-lash sting a good deal mo'     De back hit 's knowed befo',     An' de burden 's allus heavies'     Whaih hits weight has made a so';     Dey is times w'en tribulation     Seems to git de uppah han'     An' to whip de weary trav'lah     'Twell he ain't got stren'th to stan'--     But des' keep on a-joggin' wid a little bit o' song,     De mo'n is allus brightah w'en de night's been long.

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"De da'kest hour, dey allus say,..."

Exploring the themes of classic, Paul Laurence Dunbar delivers a powerful performance in "Joggin' Erlong"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"De da'kest hour, dey allus say,..." by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

"As lone I sat one summer's day,     With mien dejected, Love came by;     His face distraught, his locks astray,     So slow his gait, so sad h"

"Come away to dreamin' town,     Mandy Lou, Mandy Lou,     Whaih de skies don' nevah frown,         Mandy Lou;     Whaih he streets is paved"

"Ah me, it is cold and chill     And the fire sobs low in the grate,     While the wind rides by on the hill,     And the logs crack sharp with"

"A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,     A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,     A pint of joy to a peck of trouble,     And never"

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Paul Laurence Dunbar

About Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) was an American poet and novelist who was one of the first African-American writers to gain national prominence. His poems in dialect—including "When Malindy Sings"—and standard English explore Black life with humor, pathos, and dignity.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

"As lone I sat one summer's day,     With mien deje..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.