The Earth Turns South/Nigger Hebb'n

by Clement Richardson Wood

NIGGER HEBB'N

Nigger Hebb'n! Nigger Hebb'n!
I'm gonter go, I'm gonter go, I'll leave dis world of woe,
Pack an' trabbel, pack an' trabbel,
To de kingdom of my Lawd;
Howdy sebb'n! Come elebb'n!
I'm goin' there, I'm goin' there, I'll climb de golden stair,
Leave de debbil, an' his rabble,
Fer to claim my soul's reward.

Dar dey'll wash me white as snow,
In Jerusalem land.
Dar dose honey ribbers flow,
In Jerusalem land.
I go, you go, all of us go,
To de Lawd's baptizin', I know—
Wash me white as de dribb'n snow,
In Jerusalem land.

No, not all of you—only de sheep,
Gwineter come home ter Jesus.
Hell fer de goats—an' hell am deep;
Debbil's gang don't nebber sleep;
What I'se sowed, I'se gwineter reap,
Gwineter come home ter Jesus.

Dar dey'll gib me raiment new,
In Jerusalem land.
Turkey red, an' calico blue,
In Jerusalem land.
Feed on possum 'n' 'taters too,
Drink dose draps of hebb'nly dew,
Lots fer me—an' some fer you
In Jerusalem land.

Nigger Hebb'n! Nigger Hebb'n!
I'm flyin' high, I'm flyin' high, de top seat in de sky,
Risin' through yer, risin' through yer,
To receive my soul's reward.
Howdy sebb'n! Come elebb'n!
O come erlong, O come erlong, an' jine de serrubs' song—
Dey'll howdy-do yer, Halleluyah!
In de kingdom of my Lawd!