Foster's Melodies. No. 48.
"The Glendy Burk" (1860)
A Plantation Melody
Written and Composed
(Words and Music) by
Stephen Collins Foster, 1826-1864

1.
De Glendy Burk is mighty fast boat,
Wid a mighty fast captain too;
He sits up dah on de hurricane roof
And he keeps his eye on de crew.
I cant stay here, for dey work too hard;
I'm bound to leave dis town;
I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back
When de Glendy Burk comes down/

CHORUS
Ho! for Lou'siana!
I'm bound to leave dis town;
I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

2.
De Glendy Burk has a funny old crew
And dey sing de boatman's song,
Dey burn de pitch and de pine know too,
For to shove de boat along.
De smoke goes up and de ingine roars
And de wheel goes round and round,
So fair you well! for I'll take a little ride
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

(CHORUS)

3.
I'll work all night in de wind and storm,
I'll work all day in de rain,
'Till I find myself on de levydock
In New Orleans again.
Dey make me mow in de hay field here
And knock my head wid de flail,
I'll go wha dey work wid de sugar and de cane
And roll on de cotten bale.

(CHORUS)

4.
My lady love is as pretty as a pink,
I'll meet her on de way
I'll take her back to de sunny old sough
And day I'll make her stay
So dont you fret my honey dear,
Oh! dont you fret Miss Brown
I'll take you back 'fore de middle of de week
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

(CHORUS)