Southern Road
by Sterling Brown

Antique chain gang photograph (from my collection)

Swing dat hammer — hunh —
Steady, bo’;
Swing dat hammer — hunh —
Steady, bo’;
Ain’t no rush, bebby,
Long ways to go.

Burner tore his — hunh —
Black heart away;
Burner tore his — hunh —
Black heart away;
Got me life, bebby;
An’ a day.

Gal’s on Fifth Street — hunh —
Son done gone;
Gal’s on Fifth Street — hunh —
Son done gone;
Wife’s in de ward, bebby,
Babe’s not bo’n.

My ole man died — hunh —
Cussin’ me;
My ole man died — hunh —
Cussin’ me;
Ole lady rocks, bebby,
Huh misery.

Doubleshackled — hunh —
Guard behin’;
Doubleschackled — hunh —
Guard behin’;
Ball and chain, bebby,
On my min’.

White man tells me — hunh —
Damn yo’ soul;
White man tells me — hunh —
Damn yo’ soul;
Got no need, bebby,
To be tole.

Chain gang nevah — hunh —
Let me go;
Chain gang nevah — hunh —
Let me go;
Po’ los’ boy, bebby,
Evahmo’…