Oh, I had a happy time—
Happy time las’ night!
Staid inside dat meetin’ house
Till it mos’ daylight.
En I sho did sing en holler
Till de people know
Dat dis nigger got religion—
Couldn’t hol’ no mo’.
When I leave dat meetin’ house—
Leave at ha’f pas’ two,
I wuz gittin’ hungry ez
Shoutin’ niggers do;
En des den I heah a rooster
Gib a mighty crow;
“Don’t he think he big?” I say,
“I gwine fetch him low!”
Oh, I fetch him low! En I
Tote him home wid me,
En wid dumplin’s I done cook him
Quick ez dat kin be.
Wid religion en dat chicken
I am full up, sho,
But I reckon when night come
I kin hol’ some mo’!