Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/Scamp

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For other versions of this work, see Scamp.

Layout 2

SCAMP

AIN'T it nice to have a mammy W'en you kin' o' tiahed outWid a-playin' in de meddah, An' a-runnin' roun' aboutTill hit's made you migthy hongry, An' yo' nose hit gits to knowWhat de smell means dat's a-comin' F'om de open cabin do'?  She wash yo' face,  An' mek yo' place, You's hongry as a tramp;Den hit's eat you suppah right away, You sta'vin' little scamp. 

W'en you's full o' braid an' bacon, An' dey ain't no mo' to eat,An' de lasses dat's a-stickin' On yo' face ta'se kin' o' sweet,Don' you t'ink hit's kin' o' pleasin' Fu' to have som'body neahDat'll wipe yo' han's an' kiss you Fo' dey lif' you f'om yo cheah?  To smile so sweet,  An' wash yo' feet, An' leave 'em co'l an' damp;Den hit's come let me undress you, now You lazy little scamp. Don' yo' eyes git awful heavy, An' yo' lip git awful slack,Ain't dey som'p'n' kin' o' weaknin' In de backbone of yo' back?Don' yo' knees feel kin' o' trimbly, An' yo' head go bobbin' roun',W'en you says yo' "Now I lay me," An' is sno'in' on de "down"?   She kiss yo' nose,  She kiss yo' toes, An' den tu'n out de lamp,Den hit's creep into yo' trunnel baid, You sleepy little scamp.