Bin a Listenin'

1
I have bin a listenin' all de night long
have bin a listenin' all day
I have bin a listenin' all de night long-
to hear some sinner pray.
2
Some say gie me silber-
Some say gie me gold-
but i say gie me de grace of Gawd
'Tis precious to my soul.
3
Go read de fifth of Matthew-
And read de chapter t'ru-
It is a guide to christians
It will tell you what to do.
4
Some day John de Baptis
Wuz nuttin' but a Jew
But de Holy Bible tells us (teaches me)
Dat John wuz a Preacher too.

One of a few "melodies which have appeared in other collections are inserted here on account of their historical interest in connection with the Islands or because they are frequently sung there."

"I've Been a-List'ning All de Night Long," R. N. Dett, Religious Folk-Songs of the Negro as Sung at Hampton Institute

Variants in several collections.