I woke up this mornin
’Bout half-past three
All the womens in town
Was gathered round me
Sweet gals was a-moanin
“Sylvester’s gonna die”
And a hundred pretty mamas
Bowed their heads to cry
I woke up little later
Bout half-past fo
The doctor ‘n’ undertaker’s
Both at ma do
Black gals was a-beggin
“You can’t leave us here”
Brown-skins cryin’, “Daddy
Honey! Baby! Don’t go, dear”
But I felt ma time’s a-comin
And I know’d I’s dyin’ fast
I seed the River Jerden
A-creepin’ muddy past
But I’s still Sweet Papa ’Vester
Yes, sir! Long as life do last
So I hollers, “Com’ere, babies
Fo’ to love yo’ daddy right”
And I reaches up to hug ’em
When the Lawd put out the light
Then everything was darkness
In a great … big … night
