Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/At Night
AT NIGHT
WHUT time 'd dat clock strike?Nine? No—eight; I didn't think hit was so late.Aer chew! I must 'a' got a cough, I raally b'lieve I did doze off—Hit's mighty soothin' to de tiah, A-dozin' dis way by de fiah;Oo oom—hit feels so good to stretch I sutny is one weary wretch!
Look hyeah, dat boy done gone to sleep!He des ain't wo'th his boa'd an' keep; I des don't b'lieve he'd bat his eyes If Gab'el called him fo'm de skies!But sleepin's good dey ain't no doubt— Dis pipe o' mine is done gone out.Don't bu'n a minute, bless my soul, Des please to han' me dat ah coal.
You 'Lias git up now, my son, Seems lak my nap is des begun;You sutny mus' ma'k down de day W'en I treats comp'ny dis away!W'y, Brother Jones, dat drowse come on, An' laws! I dremp dat you was gone!You 'Lias, whaih yo' mannahs, sub, To hyeah me call an' nevah stuh!
To-morrer mo'nin' w'en I call Dat boy'll be sleepin' to beat all,Don't mek no diffunce how I roah, He'll des lay up an' sno' and sno'.Now boy, you done hyeahed whut I said, You bettah tek yo'se'f yo baid,Case ef you gits me good an' wrong I'll mek dat sno' a diffunt song.
Dis wood fiah is invitin' dho', Hit seems to wa'm de ve'y flo'—An' nuffin' ain't a whit ez sweet, Ez settin' toastin' of yo' feet.Hit mek you drowsy, too, but La! Hyeah, 'Lias, don't you hyeah yo' ma?Ef I gits sta'ted f'om dis cheah I' lay, you scamp, I'll mek you heah!
To-morrer mo'nin' I kin bawl Twell all de neighbohs hyeah me call;An' you'll be snoozin' des ez deep Ez if de day was made fu' sleep;Hit's funny when you got a cough Somehow yo' voice seems too fu' off—Can't wake dat boy fu' all I say, I reckon he'll sleep daih twell day!