Southern Road
Swing dat hammer—hunh— Steady, bo’; Swing dat hammer—hunh— Steady, bo’; Ain’t no rush, bebby, Long ways to go. Burner tore his—hunh— Black heart away; Burner tore his—hunh— Black heart away; Got me life, bebby, An’ a day. Gal’s on Fifth Street—hunh— Son done gone; Gal’s on Fifth Street—hunh— Son done gone; Wife’s in de ward, bebby, Babe’s not bo’n. My ole man died—hunh— Cussin’ me; My ole man died—hunh— Cussin’ me; Ole lady rocks, bebby, Huh misery. Doubleshackled—hunh— Guard behin’; Doubleshackled—hunh— Guard behin’; Ball an’ chain, bebby, On my min’. White man tells me—hunh— Damn yo’ soul; White man tells me—hunh— Damn yo’ soul; Got no need, bebby, To be tole. Chain gang nevah—hunh— Let me go; Chain gang nevah—hunh— Let me go; Po’ los’ boy, bebby, Evahmo’ . . .
From The Collected Poems of Sterling A. Brown by Sterling A. Brown. Copyright © 1980 Sterling A. Brown. Used by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.