Bet de goldenrod’s a-bloomin’
’Long de country roads;
Bet de hick’ry nuts am fallin’
By de loads en loads.
Bet pe’simmons am mos’ ripe—
Makes a feller grin!
What’s de sign? Why, man alive,
Cotton’s comin’ in!
Bet ole Pete am busy now
Bilin’ sorghum down;
Bet dey’ll hab a pullin’ soon—
’Vite me frum de town;
Bet de apple’s dryin’ on
Chiny plates en tin,
Bet all dis, en mo’, des kaze
Cotton’s comin’ in.
Bet de rice am hangin’ now
Head down in de sun;
Bet ole Massa’s habin’ times
Wid his rod en gun;
Wish I’d staid dar in de woods—
Town’s chuck full ob sin,
En I sho git homesick when
Cotton’s comin’ in.
Bet de pinders spread out on
De ole shed ter dry;
Bet de possum know de way
Ter de tree-top high.
Soon dem darkies put away
’Taters in de bin;—
Lan’! I’s gwine back when Pete
Brings his cotton in!