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A Memorial to Booker T. Washington
I A NEGRO SERMON—SIMON LEGREE
(To be read in your own variety of negro dialect)
LEGREE’S big house was white and green. | |
| His cotton-fields were the best to be seen. | |
| He kept strong horses and fine swine. | |
| He had cool jugs of cider and wine. | |
| His garret was full of curious things: | 5 |
| Books of magic, bags of gold, | |
| And rabbits’ feet on long twine strings. | |
| But he went down to the Devil. | |
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| Legree he sported a brass-buttoned coat, | |
| A snake-skin necktie, a blood-red shirt. | 10 |
| Legree he had a beard like a goat, | |
| And a thick hairy neck and eyes like dirt. | |
| His puffed-out cheeks were fish-belly white, | |
| He had great long teeth and an appetite. | |
| He ate raw meat ’most every meal, | 15 |
| And rolled his eyes till the cat would squeal. | |
| His fist was an enormous size | |
| To mash poor niggers that told him lies: | |
| He was surely a witch-man in disguise. | |
| But he went down to the Devil. | 20 |
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| He wore hip-boots, and would wade all day | |
| To capture his slaves who had fled away. | |
| But he went down to the Devil. | |
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| He beat kind Uncle Tom to death, | |
| Who prayed for Legree with his parting breath. | 25 |
| Then Uncle Tom to Eva flew, | |
| To the high sanctoriums bright and new; | |
| And Simon Legree stared up beneath, | |
| And cracked his heels, and ground his teeth: | |
| And went down to the Devil. | 30 |
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| He crossed the yard in the storm and gloom; | |
| He went into his grand front room. | |
| He said, “I killed him, and I don’t care.” | |
| He kicked a hound, he gave a swear; | |
| He tightened his belt, he took a lamp, | 35 |
| Went down cellar to the webs and damp. | |
| There in the middle of the mouldy floor | |
| He heaved up a slab, he found a door— | |
| And went down to the Devil. | |
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| His lamp blew out, but his eyes burned bright. | 40 |
| Simon Legree stepped down all night— | |
| Down, down to the devil. | |
| Simon Legree he reached the place, | |
| He saw one half of the human race; | |
| He saw the Devil on a wide green throne, | 45 |
| Gnawing the meat from a big ham-bone, | |
| And he said to Mister Devil: | |
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| “I see that you have much to eat— | |
| A raw ham-bone is surely sweet. | |
| I see that you have lion’s feet; | 50 |
| I see your frame is fat and fine, | |
| I see you drink your poison wine— | |
| Blood and burning turpentine.” | |
| |
| And the Devil said to Simon Legree: | |
| “I like your style, so wicked and free. | 55 |
| Come sit and share my throne with me, | |
| And let us bark and revel.” | |
| And there they sit and gnash their teeth, | |
| And each one wears a hop-vine wreath. | |
| They are matching pennies and shooting craps, | 60 |
| They are playing poker and taking naps. | |
| And old Legree is fat and fine: | |
| He eats the fire, he drinks the wine— | |
| Blood and burning turpentine— | |
| Down, down with the Devil; | 65 |
| Down, down with the Devil; | |
| Down, down with the Devil. | |
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II JOHN BROWN
(To be sung by a leader and chorus, the leader singing the body of the poem while the chorus interrupts with the question.)
I’ve been to Palestine. | |
| What did you see in Palestine? | |
| I saw the Ark of Noah— | 70 |
| It was made of pitch and pine. | |
| I saw old Father Noah | |
| Asleep beneath his vine. | |
| I saw Shem, Ham and Japhet | |
| Standing in a line. | 75 |
| I saw the tower of Babel | |
| In a gorgeous sunrise shine— | |
| By a weeping-willow tree | |
| Beside the Dead Sea. | |
| |
| I’ve been to Palestine. | 80 |
| What did you see in Palestine? | |
| I saw abominations | |
| And Gadarene swine. | |
| I saw the sinful Canaanites | |
| Upon the shewbread dine, | 85 |
| And spoil the temple vessels | |
| And drink the temple wine. | |
| I saw Lot’s wife, a pillar of salt | |
| Standing in the brine— | |
| By a weeping-willow tree | 90 |
| Beside the Dead Sea. | |
| |
| I’ve been to Palestine. | |
| What did you see in Palestine? | |
| Cedars on Mount Lebanon, | |
| Gold in Ophir’s mine, | 95 |
| And a wicked generation | |
| Seeking for a sign; | |
| And Baal’s howling worshippers | |
| Their god with leaves entwine. | |
| And … | 100 |
| I SAW THE WAR-HORSE RAMPING | |
| AND SHAKE HIS FORELOCK FINE— | |
| By a weeping-willow tree | |
| Beside the Dead Sea. | |
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| I’ve been to Palestine. | 105 |
| What did you see in Palestine? | |
| Old John Brown, | |
| Old John Brown. | |
| I saw his gracious wife | |
| Dressed in a homespun gown. | 110 |
| I saw his seven sons | |
| Before his feet bow down. | |
| And he marched with his seven sons, | |
| His wagons and goods and guns, | |
| To his campfire by the sea, | 115 |
| By the waves of Galilee. | |
| |
| I’ve been to Palestine. | |
| What did you see in Palestine? | |
| I saw the harp and psaltery | |
| Played for Old John Brown. | 120 |
| I heard the Ram’s horn blow, | |
| Blow for Old John Brown. | |
| I saw the Bulls of Bashan— | |
| They cheered for Old John Brown. | |
| I saw the big Behemoth— | 125 |
| He cheered for Old John Brown. | |
| I saw the big Leviathan— | |
| He cheered for Old John Brown. | |
| I saw the Angel Gabriel | |
| Great power to him assign. | 130 |
| I saw him fight the Canaanites | |
| And set God’s Israel free. | |
| I saw him when the war was done | |
| In his rustic chair recline— | |
| By his camp-fire by the sea, | 135 |
| By the waves of Galilee. | |
| |
| I’ve been to Palestine. | |
| What did you see in Palestine? | |
| Old John Brown, | |
| Old John Brown. | 140 |
| And there he sits | |
| To judge the world. | |
| His hunting-dogs | |
| At his feet are curled. | |
| His eyes half-closed, | 145 |
| But John Brown sees | |
| The ends of the earth, | |
| The Day of Doom. | |
| AND HIS SHOT-GUN LIES | |
| ACROSS HIS KNEES— | 150 |
| Old John Brown, | |
| Old John Brown. | |
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III KING SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
“And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon,… she came to prove him with hard questions.”
[This chorus is an adaptation of the tune, You shall be free when the Good Lord sets you free. It is supposed to be sung at a camp meeting of thousands of colored people, the crowd weaving and dancing and humming after their accustomed manner.]
Interlocutor. The Queen of Sheba came to see King Solomon. | |
| Men’s Leader. I was King Solomon. | |
| Women’s Leader. I was the Queen. | 155 |
| Congregation. YOU shall be king and queen, | |
| Reigning on mountains green, | |
| Happy and free | |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | |
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| Interlocutor. K..i..n..g … Solomon he had four hundred oxen. | 160 |
| Field Hands. We were the oxen. | |
| Congregation. YOU shall feel goads no more, | |
| Walk dreadful roads no more, | |
| Free from your loads | |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | 165 |
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| Interlocutor. K..i..n..g … Solomon he had four hundred sweethearts. | |
| Women’s Chorus. We were the sweethearts. | |
| Congregation—(delicately). YOU shall dance round again, | |
| Cymbals shall sound again, | |
| Wild-flowers be found | 170 |
| For ten thousand years … y..e..a..r..s. | |
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| Interlocutor. And every sweetheart had four hundred swans. | |
| Women’s Chorus. We were the swans. | |
| Congregation—(delicately). YOU shall spread wings again, | |
| Fly in soft rings again, | 175 |
| Swim by cool springs | |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | |
| Interlocutor. K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n.. | |
| K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n … | |
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| Women’s Leader. The Qu..een.. of Sheba asked him like a lady, | 180 |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “What makes the roses bloom | |
| Over the mossy tomb, | |
| Driving away the gloom | |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s?” | 185 |
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| Men’s Leader. K..i..ng.. Solomon made answer to the lady, | |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “They bloom forever thinking of your beauty, | |
| Your step so queenly and your eyes so lovely. | |
| That keeps the roses fair, | 190 |
| Young and without a care, | |
| Making so sweet the air | |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | |
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| Interlocutor. King Solomon he had four hundred sons. | |
| Field Hands. We were the sons. | 195 |
| Congregation. CROWNED by the throngs again, | |
| You shall make songs again, | |
| Singing along | |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | |
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| Interlocutor. He gave each son four hundred prancing ponies. | 200 |
| Field Hands. We were the ponies. | |
| Congregation. YOU shall eat hay again, | |
| In forest play again, | |
| Rampage and neigh | |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | 205 |
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| Men’s Leader. K..i..n..g Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba, | |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “What makes the oak-tree grow | |
| Hardy in sun and snow, | |
| Never by wind brought low | 210 |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s?” | |
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| Women’s Leader. The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady, | |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “It blooms forever thinking of your wisdom, | |
| Your brave heart and the way you rule your kingdom. | 215 |
| That makes the oak secure, | |
| Weaving its leafy lure, | |
| Dreaming by fountains pure | |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s.” | |
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| Interlocutor. The Queen of Sheba had four hundred sailors. | 220 |
| Field Hands. We were the sailors. | |
| Congregation. YOU shall bring spice and ore | |
| Over the ocean’s floor, | |
| Shipmates once more, | |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | 225 |
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| Women’s Leader—(softly). The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady, | |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “Why is the sea so deep, | |
| What secret does it keep | |
| While tides a-roaring leap | 230 |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s?” | |
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| Men’s Leader—(solemnly and ornately). K..i..n..g … Solomon made answer to the lady, | |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “My love for you is like the stormy ocean— | |
| Too deep to understand, | 235 |
| Bending to your command, | |
| Bringing your ships to land | |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s.” | |
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| Interlocutor. K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n. | |
| K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n. | 240 |
| Congregation—(rapidly, with heavy accents). The teeth of all his chiefs were set with diamonds. | |
| Field Hands. We were the chieftains. | |
| Congregation. YOU shall be proud again, | |
| Dazzle the crowd again, | |
| Laughing aloud | 245 |
| For ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | |
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| Interlocutor—(slowly and softly). K..i..n..g Solomon he had four hundred shepherds, | |
| Field Hands. We were the shepherds. | |
| Congregation. YOU shall have torches bright, | |
| Watching the folds at night, | 250 |
| Guarding the lambs aright | |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s. | |
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| Men’s Leader—(loud) and Field-hand Chorus—(softly). K..i..n..g Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba, | |
| Bowing most politely: | |
| “Why are the stars so high, | 255 |
| There in the velvet sky | |
| Rolling in rivers by | |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s?” | |
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| Women’s Leader—(loud) and Women’s Chorus—(softly). The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady, | |
| Bowing most politely: | 260 |
| “They’re singing of your kingdom to the angels; | |
| They guide your chariot with their lamps and candles. | |
| Therefore they burn so far— | |
| So you can drive your car | |
| Up where the prophets are | 265 |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s.” | |
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| Interlocutor—(loud and full throated). K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n … | |
| K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n … | |
| King Solomon he kept the Sabbath holy, | |
| And spoke with tongues in prophet-words so mighty— | 270 |
| We stamped and whirled and wept and shouted, “Glory!” | |
| We were his people. | |
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| Men’s and Women’s Leaders—(very softly and slowly). YOU shall be wild and gay, | |
| Green trees shall deck your way, | |
| Sunday be every day | 275 |
| Ten thousand … y..e..a..r..s … | |
| K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n … | |
| K..i..n..g … S..o..l..o..m..o..n … | |
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