Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/When a Feller's Itchin' to Be Spanked

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Layout 2

WHEN A FELLER'S ITCHIN' TO BE
SPANKED

W'EN us fellers stomp around, makin' lots
 o' noise,
Gramma says, "There's certain times comes
  to little boys
W'en they need a shingle or the soft side of
  a plank;"
She says "we're a-itchin' for a right good
  spank."
    An' she says, "Now thes you wait,
    It's a-comin'—soon or late,
W'en a fellers itchin' fer a spank."

W'en a feller's out o' school, you know how he
  feels,
Gramma says we wriggle 'roun like a lot o'
  eels.
W'y it's like a man that's thes home from out
  o' jail.
What's the use o' scoldin' if we pull Tray's
  tail?
    Gramma says, tho', "thes you wait,
    It's a-comin'—soon or late,
You'se the boys that's itchin' to be spanked."

Cats is funny creatures an' I like to make 'em
  yowl,
Gramma alwus looks at me with a awful scowl
An' she says, "Young gentlemen, mamma
  should be thanked
Ef you'd get your knickerbockers right well
  spanked."
    An' she says, "Now thes you wait,
    It's a-comin'—soon or late,"
W'en a feller's itchin' to be spanked.

Ef you fin' the days is gettin' awful hot
  in school
An' you know a swimmin' place where it's nice
  and cool,
Er you know a cat-fish hole brimmin' full o'
  fish,
Whose a-goin' to set around school and wish?
    'Tain't no use to hide your bait,
    It's a-comin'—soon or late,
W'en a feller's itchin' to be spanked.

Ol' folks know most ever thing 'bout the
  world, I guess,
Gramma does, we wish she knowed thes a
  little less,
But I alwus kind o' think it 'ud be as well
Ef they wouldn't alwus have to up an' tell;
    We kids wish 'at they'd thes wait,
    It's a-comin'—soon or late,
W'en a feller's itchin' to be spanked.