American Old Time Song Lyrics: 43 Ise Gwine Back

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 43

I'SE GWINE BACK.
Copyright, 1891, by T. B. Harms & Co.
Words and Music by Jennie E. Lissenden.

'Twas down in Mississippi, many years ago,
We used to pick da cotton and it grew as white as snow;
De darkies would be singin' de songs I used to know,
And we'd all feel so happy as each day would come and go.
Sometimes dem coons would get too swift and think dey run away,
But by the time dey had that thought, dey'd find it didn't pay;
De master and de bloodhounds dey were soon upon his track,
An' you ought to hear dat nigger squeal when master brought him back, oh!

Refrain.
I'se gwine back, I'se gwine back, back to de dear old South;
Come along, my honey, I'se gwine back, I'se gwine back;
Come along, my honey, with me;
Now won't you come, my Liza?

You talk about your dancin'; ought to been down there,
To see them niggers buck and wing, you'd thought dey's made ob air.
I 'member Rastus Johnson was king ob all de rest:
Oh course, when for de white folks, he would always do his best.
Den when de day's work it was done, we'd sit around de fire,
An' eb'ry one ob us would wait fo' master to retire;
Den some oh us would clap dar hands, while udders dey would sing,
An' dat little Rastus Johnson he would cut der pigeon wing, oh!-Refrain.

Den dar was Liza Perkins, Jackson Small, her beau;
On Sunday dey would call for us to meetin' we would go;
Sam Johnson led de singin'-I want you till to know,
He's daddy to dat coon dar dat goes spinnin' on his toe.
Dar's uncle Joe an' Raphael Snow, a singin' in de choir,
An' Sue an' Maud an' Fanny Green, an' den my aunt Sophiar;
Soon each coon got so happy till dey just began to shout,
An' ole Rastus got to laughin', so de preacher fired him out, oh!- Refrain.