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WAKE, NICODEMUS.
Key of A major.
Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth,
He was bought with a bag full of gold; He was reckoned as part of the salt of the earth,
And he died, years ago, very old. 'T was his last sad request, as we laid him away
In the trunk of an old hollow tree, "Wake me up," Was his charge, "at the first break of day;
Wake me up for the grand jubilee!"
Chorus.—The good time coming, 't is almost here, It was long, long, long on the way; Now, run and tell Elijah to hurry up Pomp, And meet us at the gum tree down in the swamp, To wake Nicodemus to-day.
He was known as a prophet, at least was as wise,
For he told of the battles to come; And we trembled with dread when he rolled up his eyes,
And we heeded the shake of his thumb. Though he clothed us with fear, yet the garments he wore
Were in patches at elbow and knee; And he still wears the suit that he used to, of yore,
As he sleeps in the old hollow tree.
Nicodemus was never the sport of the lash,
1 nough the bullet has oft crossed his path; There were none of his masters so brave or so rash
As to face such a man in his wrath. Yet his great heart with kindness was filled to the brim—
He obeyed, who was born to command; But he longed for the morning which then was so dim—
For the morning which now is at hand.
'T was a long, weary night; we were almost in fear
That the future was more than he knew; 'T was a long, weary night, but the morning is near,
And the words of our prophet are true. There are signs in the sky that the darkness is gone,
There are token in endless array; While the storm which had seemingly banished the dawn,
Only hastens the advent of day. |
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