Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings/Camp-Meeting Song

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121983Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings — Camp-Meeting SongJoel Chandler Harris

His Songs[edit]

II. Camp-Meeting Song[edit]

(Note)[1]

Oh, de worril is roun’ en de worril is wide—
      Lord! ’member deze chillun in de mornin’—
Hit’s a mighty long ways up de mountain side,
En dey ain’t no place fer dem sinners fer ter hide,
En dey ain’t no place whar sin kin abide,
      W’en de Lord shill come in de mornin’!
            Look up en look aroun’,
            Fling yo’ burden on de groun’,
      Hit’s a gittin’ mighty close on ter mornin’!
            Smoove away sin’s frown—
            Retch up en git de crown,
      W’at de Lord will fetch in de mornin’!

De han’ er ridem’shun, hit’s hilt out ter you—
      Lord! ’member dem sinners in de mornin’!
Hit’s a mighty pashent han’, but de days is but few,
W’en Satun, he’ll come a demandin’ un his due,
En de stiff-neck sinners ’ll be smotin’ all fru—
      Oh, you better git ready for de mornin’!
            Look up en set yo’ face
            To’ds de green hills of grace
      ’Fo’ de sun rises up in de mornin’—
            Oh, you better change yo’ base,
            Hits yo’ soul’s las’ race
      For de glory dat’s a comin’ in de mornin’!

De farmer gits ready w’en de lan’s all plowed
      For ter sow dem seeds in de mornin’
De sperrit may be puny en de flesh may be proud,
But you better cut loose fum de scoffin’ crowd,
En jine dose Christuns w’at’s a cryin’ out loud
      Fer de Lord fer ter come in de mornin’!
            Shout loud en shout long,
            Let de eckoes ans’er strong,
      W’en de sun rises up in de mornin’!
            Oh, you allers will be wrong
            Twel you choose ter belong
      Ter de Marster w’at’s a comin’ in de mornin’!


Footnotes[edit]

  1. In the days of slavery, the religious services held by the negroes who accompanied their owners to the camp-meetings were marvels of earnestness and devotion.