De 'Sprise Pa'ty

Bring out my bawnjer, Susan, and Rastus shek de fiah,
De coons am all flockin' in, ur Daddy am ur liah.


Hyuh's some dat's f'um de Bottom an' some dat's f'um de Ridge,
An' bress my soul! dar's Unker Nat f'um way 'yan Mayho's Bridge!


Dar's Tempie wid dat niggah whar waits at de St. Cla'r;
Des watch him how he hol' his cane, an' sabe us, wut a a'r!


Dar's Jinsy an' dar's 'Lindy; dar's Reuben and dar's Jane;
Dar's Mandy wid ur niggah whar po'tahs on de train.


Hyuh's niggahs f'um de country and niggahs f'um de town,
Ur comin' wid ur pa'ty ter s'prise de fambly Brown.


Go git my bawnjer, Susan; you 'Rastus, chunk dat coal!
Gib me yo' paw, you niggahs -- Ise happy, bress my soul!


Susan doan' 'low no dawncin', she jined de chu'ch, you know,
Ur pillow in Mt. Zion, an' wut she say gwine go.


B'en baptized in Ol' Mud Creek by Reb'ren Pa'son Snow --
But youse 'lowed ter tu'n de plate an' "Chase de Bufferlo.'


Kin play "Hyuh goes de blue-bud" an' "Honey lub, my sweet,"
An' "Lunnon Bridge is bu'nin' down" -- but doan you cross dem feet,


For Susan orful 'ligious an' mighty 'tic'lar, too --
Kyahful 'bout dem crossin' feet wutebber else you do!


Dar's possum on de table an' coon dar on de she'f,
Dar's cidah in dat brown jug, each niggah he'p hisse'f.


Dar's pie an' cake an' dunnuts an' aig nogg in ur bowl;
Des eat an' drink, youse welcome -- Ise happy, bress my soul!


Now, while I chune dis bawnjer, you 'Rastus, git yo' ha'p!
Mek music fur de comp'ny; now, niggah, look right sha'p!


Plunk! plunk! plunk! plunk! plunkety! plunk! plunkety! plunk! plunk!
Plunk! plunkety! plunk! plunk! plunk! plunk! plunkety! plunk! plunk!


"Neah-row my Gawd ter Dee" (now dat chune's fur yo' Mu'rr;
W'en we gits her moll and tim[1], we gwine to play an urr)


Now "Rock ob Ages," sof' an' sweet; sing, you niggahs, sing!
Des hyuh dat tenah an' dat bass! Lawd, how dem raftahs ring!


Hyuh Susan's cla'r supranah lif' dem tall notes on high!
She tink'n bout de great white t'rone' an' "Mansions in de sky."


Now Susan's in de kitchen ur sottin' out de grub;
Tek erway dat spinnin' wheel an' tote out do's dat tub.


You hyuh dis bawnjer singin'? You reckernize de chune?
"Town gals all come out ternight an' dawnce by light de moon."


You niggahs git yo' pa'dnahs an' lead dem on de flo' --
Des hyuh dis bawnjer callin' -- I cyawn' hol' in no mo'!


"All 'beedyunce ter yo' pa'dnahs!" an' "Co'nahs all de same!"
Des nebber min' 'bout Susan -- I gwine tek all de blame.


Now, "Fo'wa'd ter de centah!" an' "Ladies, swing right bac'!"
Des watch de dus' ur raisin' an' hyuh de ol' flo' crac'!


Now fastah, fastah, 'Rastus! (De debbil's in dis string)
Des "Balance all!" you niggahs -- Lawd, see dat pidgin wing!


-- Fo' Gawd! who dat ur dawncin' wid' dat niggah f'um de town!
W'y bress my soul an' buddy ef dat ain' Susan Brown!


O fastah, fastah, 'Rastus, youse playin' fur yo' Mam,
She done furgot her 'ligion an' dus'n cyah ur---!


You Ike! Come tek dis bawnjer! I gwine ter hab ur fling!
Play fastah, fastah, 'Rastus! Now "Ebbrybuddy swing!"