"Southern Lullaby" (1897)
Poetry by
Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Music by
W. W. Gilchrist

[New York?] Theo. Presser. 3
Plate No. 2205
[Source: 053401@LoC]


1. Bedtime’s come fo’ little boys,
  Po’ little lamb!
Too tiah’d out to make a noise,
  Po’ little lamb!
Gwine to have tomorrer sho’?
Yes you tole me dat befo’,
Don’t you fool me, chile, no mo’,
  Po’ little lamb!

2. You been bad the livelong day,
  Po’ little lamb!
Throwin’ stones an’ runnin’ way,
  Po’ little lamb!
My! but you’s a runnin’ wild,
Look jes’ like some po’ folk chile,
Mam’ gwine whip you atter while,
  Po’ little lamb!

3. Come hyeah! you mos’ tiah’d to def,
  Po’ little lamb!
Play’d yo’se’f clean out o’ bref,
  Po’ little lamb!
See dem han’s now, sich a sight!
Would you evah, b’lieve dey’s white?
Stan’ still while I wash dem right,
  Po’ little lamb!

4. Jes’ caint hol’ yo’ haid up straight,
  Po’ little lamb!
Hadn’t oughter play’d so late,
  Po’ little lamb!
Mammy do’ know what she’d do,
Ef de chillun’s all lak you,
You’s a caution now fu’ tru’,
  Po’ little lamb!

5. Lay yo’ haid down in my lap,
  Po’ little lamb!
Y’ought to have a right down slap,
  Po’ little lamb!
You been runnin’ roun’ a heap,
Shet dem eyes an’ don’ you peep,
Dah now! day now! go to sleep,
  Po’ little lamb!
  Po’ little lamb!
  Po’ little lamb!