Somebody mentioned this as an example of "talking blues." Well, I'm not sure about that, but it's definitely recited rather than sung.


YOWZAH
As recorded by Shel Silverstein on "Crouchin' on the Outside" (2010) and "I'm So Good I Don't Have to Brag!" (2010)

Well, it wasn't too very long ago,
You know, some folks walked with a heigh-de-ho,
And other folks walked around kinda low
Sayin' "Yowzah," an' "Sho' 'nuff," an' "Yassuh, boss."

It was ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
They didn't believe in makin' a fuss,
So when someone said "Move to the back o' the bus,"
They just said: "Yowzah," an' "Sho' 'nuff," an' "Yassuh, boss."

Yeah, they perspired and they expired.
Still, they never got no higher.
Now and then they'd get a little bit tired
Of sayin' "Yowzah," an' "Sho' 'nuff," an' "Yassuh, boss."

So they'd all go out and do a little prayin',
Little arm wavin' an' a little bit o' swayin'.
Didn't do no good; they just kept right on sayin'
"Yowzah," an' "Sho' 'nuff," an' "Yassuh, boss."

They were shinin' shoes an' fryin' chicken,
Washin' cars an' cotton pickin'.
Fin'ly at last they got damn sick o' sayin':
"Yowzah," an' "Sho' 'nuff," an' "Yassuh, boss."

So they all got together; they did a little standin',
Little less askin' an' a lot more demandin',
Little less liftin', a little less totin',
Lot more thinkin' an' a lot more votin',
Lot less hopin', lot less waitin',
Whole lot more demonstratin',
Whole lot less pearly-gatin',
Lot more screamin' an' a lot more walkin',
Till finally hardly anybody at all was talkin'
Like "Yowzah," an' "Sho' 'nuff," an' "Yassuh, boss."

Now the moral of the story is plain to see:
They finally achieved equality,
And now like you and me,
They can stand up strong and free,
And say: "Yes, sir," and "Of course, sir," and "Anything you say, J. B."