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Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889

Massa’s in de Cold Ground

By Stephen Collins Foster (1826–1864)

ROUND de meadows am a-ringing

De darkeys’ mournful song,

While de mocking-bird am singing,

Happy as de day am long.

Where de ivy am a-creeping,

O’er de grassy mound,

Dere old massa am a-sleeping,

Sleeping in de cold, cold ground.

Down in de corn-field

Hear dat mournful sound;

All de darkeys am a-weeping,—

Massa’s in de cold, cold ground.

When de autumn leaves were falling,

When de days were cold,

’Twas hard to hear old massa calling,

Cayse he was so weak and old.

Now, de orange tree am blooming

On de sandy shore,

Now de summer days am coming,—

Massa nebber calls no more.

Massa make de darkeys love him,

Cayse he was so kind;

Now, dey sadly weep above him,

Mourning cayse he leave dem behind.

I cannot work before to-morrow,

Cayse de tear-drop flow;

I try to drive away my sorrow,

Pickin on de old banjo.

Down in de corn-field

Hear dat mournful sound:

All de darkeys am a-weeping,—

Massa’s in de cold, cold ground.

1852.