MASSA'S IN DE COLD GROUND
(Stephen Collins Foster, 1852)

1
Round de meadows am a ringing
De darkeys' mournful song,
While de mocking-bird am singing
Happy as de day is long.
Where de ivy am a-creeping,
O'er de grassy mound,
Dare old massa am a-sleeping,
Sleeping in de cold, cold ground.

CHORUS
Down in de cornfield
Hear dat mournful sound;
All de darkeys am a weeping
Massa's in de cold, cold ground.

2
When de autumn leaves were falling,
When de days were cold,
'Twas hard to hear old massa calling,
Cayse he was so weak and old.
Now de orange tree am blooming
On de sandy shore,
Now de summer days am coming,
Massa nebber calls no more.

3
Massa make the darkeys love him,
Cayse he was so kind,
Now dey sadly weep above him,
Mourning cayse he leave dem behind.
I cannot work before tomorrow,
Cayse de teardrops flow,
I try to drive away my sorrow
Pickin' on de old banjo.


One of the best Foster melodies. Sung by Tom Roush on his cd, Down Among the Cane Brakes.

http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/foster015.htm
Midi and mp3 at this fine website.