"Massa's in de Cold Ground" (7 July 1852)
As Sung by Christy's Minstrels
Written & Composed by
Stephen Collins Foster, 1826-1864

[Source: New York: Firth, Pond & Co., Plate No. 1620]

1.
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 creeping
O'er de grassy mound,
Dare old massa am a sleeping, 
Sleeping in de cold, cold ground.

CHORUS 2 times
Down in de cornfield
Hear dat mournful sound:
All de darkeys 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,
Cayse he was so weak and old.
Now de orange tree am blooming
On de sandy shore,
Now de summer days am comming,
Massa nebber calls no more.

(CHORUS 2 times)

3.
Massa made 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 tomorrow,
Cayse de tear drops flow,
I try to drive away my sorrow
Pickin on de old banjo.

(CHORUS 2 times)