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PICKIN' COTTON
Cotton pickers been brought 'round
to pick old Massa's cotton down
in the long hot blazing sun
and do not stop till it is done
Old men bent with swollwn toes
old women with ragged shawls and clothes
poverty is all they've ever known
no happiness, no hope, no home
And tears were shed
when fingers bled
but do not stop and do not cry
for the overseer might ride by
He has a whip with nine thick tails
to make a cotton picker wail
just keep picking, don't look up
for he be mean and so corrupt
Don't worry 'bout tomorrow so
for where it's hot, cotton always grow
and you'll be here another day
to toil your weary life away
Just put that baby in the shade
kiss him so he won't be afraid
just watch, don't let him crawl away
for if you stop, then you must pay
There's not much food for us today
we don't work hard enough, he say
and only water from the well
our life be just a living hell
Work until we're old and grey
till angels carry us away
up there where the gate's ain't sealed
up in God's own great cotton field
My good old Massa, he already gone
where the angels sing their song
where they might fix this old broken heart
and give us unfortunates a brand new start
Come on old woman, just come on home
it's dark now and days work is done
a little rest could help a bit
some buttermilk, a place to sit
Oh Lord, won't you listen while I pray
please, what this old darkie say
we're all so tired and all alone
won't you please take us on up home
Come on old woman, there's naught to say
cause they sold our babies all away
took all the things that we held dear
and gave us only hate and fear
Listen now, I have a thing to say to you
for I know our lives be almost through
I loved you when first you were my bride
I loved you when we hurt inside
I loved you when you bore my babes
I loved you when old Massa made you give them all away
you stood so tall, you stood so proud
and not a tear was ere allowed
And time is almost over here for us
no more bother, no more fuss
come on old woman, just hold my hand
we're going home to glory land
Where all our families live just fine
where there's no overseer with a cat o nine
