The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/Keep A Song Up On De Way

KEEP A SONG UP ON DE WAY

Oh, de clouds is mighty heavy An' de rain is mighty thick; Keep a song up on de way. An' de waters is a rumblin' On de boulders in de crick, Keep a song up on de way. Fu' a bird ercross de road Is a-singin' lak he knowed Dat we people did n't daih Fu' to try de rainy aih Wid a song up on de way.

What's de use o' gittin' mopy, Case de weather ain' de bes'! Keep a song up on de way. W'en de rain is fallin' ha'des', Dey 's de longes' times to res' Keep a song up on de way. Dough de plough 's a-stan'in' still Dey 'll be watah fu' de mill, Rain mus' come ez well ez sun 'Fo' de weathah's wo'k is done, Keep a song up on de way.

W'y hit's nice to hyeah de showahs Fallin' down ermong de trees: Keep a song up on de way. Ef de birds don' bothah 'bout it, But go singin' lak dey please, Keep a song up on de way. You don' s'pose I's gwine to see Dem ah fowls do mo' dan me? No, suh, I 'll des chase dis frown, An' aldough de rain fall down, Keep a song up on de way.