Long Ago

De ol' time's gone, de new time's hyeah

Wid all hits fuss an' feddahs;

I done fu'got de joy an' cheah

We knowed all kin's o' weddahs,

I done fu'got each ol'-time hymn

We ust to sing in meetin';

I 's leahned de prah's, so neat an' trim,

De preachah keeps us 'peatin'.

Hang a vine by de chimney side,

An' one by de cabin do';

An' sing a song fu' de day dat died,

De day of long ergo.

My youf, hit's gone, yes, long ergo,

An' yit I ain't a-moanin';

Hit 's fu' somet'ings I ust to know

I set to-night a-honin'.

De pallet on de ol' plank flo',

De rain bar'l und' de eaves,

De live oak 'fo' de cabin do',

Whaih de night dove comes an' grieves.

Hang a vine by de chimney side,

An' one by de cabin do';

An' sing a song fu' de day dat died,

De day of long ergo.

I 'd lak a few ol' frien's to-night

To come an' set wid me;

An' let me feel dat ol' delight

I ust to in dey glee.

But hyeah we is, my pipe an' me,

Wid no one else erbout;

We bofe is choked ez choked kin be,

An' bofe 'll soon go out.

Hang a vine by de chimney side,

An' one by de cabin do';

An' sing a song fu' de day dat died,

De day of long ergo.