#Americans #Blacks
Oh, silver tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul! In a Harlem cabaret Six long—headed jazzers play. A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.
When I was home de Sunshine seemed like gold. When I was home de Sunshine seemed like gold. Since I come up North de
I catch the pattern Of your silence Before you speak I do not need To hear a word.
My old mule, He’s gota grin on his face. He’s been a mule so long He’s forgotten about his race. I’m like that old mule —
When a man starts out with nothing… When a man starts out with his han… Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world… He starts first with himself
I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered!
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
Harlem Sent him home in a long box— Too dead To know why:
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head w… Let the rain sing you a lullaby. The rain makes still pools on the… The rain makes running pools in th…
2 and 2 are 4. 4 and 4 are 8. But what would happen If the last 4 was late? And how would it be
When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you’re in a hurry— That’s the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach.
