Poem by James Weldon Johnson

A Banjo Song

W'en de banjos wuz a-ringin',
An' de darkies wuz a-singin',
Oh, wuzen dem de good times sho!
All de ole folks would be chattin',
An' de pickaninnies pattin',
As dey heah'd de feet a-shufflin' 'cross de flo'.

An' how we'd dance, an' how we'd sing!
Dance tel de day done break.
An' how dem banjos dey would ring,
An' de cabin flo' would shake!

Come along, come along,
Come along, come along,
Don't you heah dem banjos a-ringin'?

Gib a song, gib a song,
Gib a song, gib a song,
Git yo' feet fixed up fu' a-wingin'.

W'ile de banjos dey go plunka, plunka, plunk,
We'll dance tel de ole flo' shake;
W'ile de feet keep a-goin' chooka, chooka, chook,
We'll dance tel de day done break.

1. A Plantation Bacchanal
2. The Glory of the Day Was in Her Face
3. Brer Rabbit, You's de Cutes' of 'Em All
4. A Mid-Day Dreamer
5. Vashti

Paul Dunbar A Banjo Song ("Oh, dere 's lots o' keer an' trouble")

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