The Old Cabin

In de dead of night I sometimes,     Git to t'inkin' of de pas'     An' de days w'en slavery helt me     In my mis'ry--ha'd an' fas'.     Dough de time was mighty tryin',     In dese houahs somehow hit seem     Dat a brightah light come slippin'     Thoo de kivahs of my dream.     An' my min' fu'gits de whuppins     Draps de feah o' block an' lash     An' flies straight to somep'n' joyful     In a secon's lightnin' flash.     Den hit seems I see a vision     Of a dearah long ago     Of de childern tumblin' roun' me     By my rough ol' cabin do'.     Talk about yo' go'geous mansions     An' yo' big house great an' gran',     Des bring up de fines' palace     Dat you know in all de lan'.     But dey's somep'n' dearah to me,     Somep'n' faihah to my eyes     In dat cabin, less you bring me     To yo' mansion in de skies.     I kin see de light a-shinin'     Thoo de chinks atween de logs,     I kin hyeah de way-off bayin'     Of my mastah's huntin' dogs,     An' de neighin' of de hosses     Stampin' on de ol' bahn flo',     But above dese soun's de laughin'     At my deah ol' cabin do'.     We would gethah daih at evenin',     All my frien's 'ud come erroun'     An' hit wan't no time, twell, bless you,     You could hyeah de banjo's soun'.     You could see de dahkies dancin'     Pigeon wing an' heel an' toe--     Joyous times I tell you people     Roun' dat same ol' cabin do'.     But at times my t'oughts gits saddah,     Ez I riccolec' de folks,     An' dey frolickin' an' talkin'     Wid dey laughin' an dey jokes.     An' hit hu'ts me w'en I membahs     Dat I'll nevah see no mo'     Dem ah faces gethered smilin'     Roun' dat po' ol' cabin do'.