Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/A Summer Night

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Layout 2

A SUMMER NIGHT

SUMMAH is de lovin' time—
 Do' keer what you say.
Night is allus peart an' prime,
 Bettah dan de day.
Do de day is sweet an' good,
 Birds a-singin' fine,
Pines a-smellin' in de wood,—
 But de night is mine.

Rivah whisperin "howdy do,"
 Ez it pass you by—
Moon a-lookin' down at you,
 Winkin' on de sly.
Frogs a-croakin' f'om de pon',
 Singin' bass dey fill,
An' you listen way beyon'
 Ol' man whippo'will.

Hush up, honey, tek my han',
 Mek yo' footsteps light;
Somep'n' kin' o' hol's de lan'
 On a summah night.
Somep'n' dat you nevah sees
 An' you nevah hyeahs,
But you feels it in de breeze,
 Somep'n' nigh to teahs.

Somep'n' nigh to teahs? dat's so;
 But hit's nigh to smiles.
An' you feels it ez you go
 Down de shinin' miles.
Tek my han', my little dove;
 Hush an' come erway—
Summah is de time fu' love,
 Night-time beats de day!