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Paul Laurence Dunbar - A Banjo Song
Work rating: Low

OH, dere`s lots o` keer an` trouble
In dis world to swaller down;
An` ol` Sorrer`s purty lively
In her way o` gittin` roun`.
Yet dere`s times when I furgit `em, —
Aches an` pains an` troubles all, —
An` it`s when I tek at ebenin`
My ol` banjo f`om de wall.
`Bout de time dat night is fallin`
An` my daily wu`k is done,
An` above de shady hilltops
I kin see de settin` sun;
When de quiet, restful shadders
Is beginnin` jes` to fall, —
Den I take de little banjo
F`om its place upon de wall.
Den my fam`ly gadders roun` me
In de fadin` o` de light,
Ez I strike de strings to try `em
Ef dey all is tuned er-right.
An` it seems we`re so nigh heaben
We kin hyeah de angels sing
When de music o` dat banjo
Sets my cabin all er-ring.
An` my wife an` all de othahs, —
Male an` female, small an` big, —
Even up to gray-haired granny,
Seem jes` boun` to do a jig;
`Twell I change de style o` music,
Change de movement an` de time,
An` de ringin` little banjo
Plays an ol` hea`t-feelin` hime.
An` somehow my th`oat gits choky,
An` a lump keeps tryin` to rise
Lak it wan`ed to ketch de water
Dat was flowin` to my eyes; 
An` I feel dat I could sorter
Knock de socks clean off o` sin
Ez I hyeah my po` ol` granny
Wif huh tremblin` voice jine in.
Den we all th`ow in our voices
Fu` to he`p de chune out too,
Lak a big camp-meetin` choiry
Tryin` to sing a mou`nah th`oo.
An` our th`oahts let out de music,
Sweet an` solemn, loud an` free,
`Twell de raftahs o` my cabin
Echo wif de melody.
Oh, de music o` de banjo,
Quick an` deb`lish, solemn, slow,
Is de greates` joy an` solace
Dat a weary slave kin know!
So jes` let me hyeah it ringin`,
Dough de chune be po` an` rough,
It`s a pleasure; an` de pleasures
O` dis life is few enough.
Now, de blessed little angels
Up in heaben, we are told,
Don`t do nothin` all dere lifetime
`Ceptin` play on ha`ps o` gold.
Now I think heaben`d be mo` homelike
Ef we`d hyeah some music fall
F`om a real ol`-fashioned banjo,
Like dat one upon de wall.
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