Massa's in de Cold Ground

1 Round de meadows am a ringing,
De darkys' 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.

Chorus:
Down in de cornfield
Hear dat mournful sound:
All de darkies am a-weeping,
Massa's in de cold, cold ground.

2 When de autumn leaves were falling,
When de days were cold,
'Twas hard to hear old massa calling,
Ca'se 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. [Chorus]

3 Massa make de darkies love him,
Ca'se he was so kind.
Now dey sadly weep above him,
Mourning ca'se he leave dem behind.
I cannot work before tomorrow,
Ca'se de tear drops flow;
I try to drive away my sorrow,
Pickin' on de old banjo. [Chorus]

Source: Sacred and Secular Selections: for gentlemen's voices #125