Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DE GOSPEL TRAIN, by JULIA JOHNSON DAVIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DE GOSPEL TRAIN, by                    
First Line: Brederen, listen ter de words I say
Last Line: Cause ev'body livin' got ter die.


Brederen, listen ter de words I say,
Ev'ybody livin' got ter die,
It mough be ter-morrer or it mought be ter-day,
But ev'ybody livin' got ter die.
De young an' de ol', an' de black an' de white,
De ones doin' evil an' de ones doin' right,
De weak in der mis'ry an' de strong in der might,
Ev'ybody livin' got ter die.

I got ter die, you ter got die,
Ev'ybody livin' got ter die.

But de Lawd done give us de Promis' Lan',
Praise Gawd fo' de Promis' Lan',
Moses sign de Cov'nant wid his own han',
Praise Gawd fo' de Promis' Lan',
Canaa' wuz de lan' dat de Lawd ordain,
Sinner, heah mah words, fo' I speak out plain,
De only way ter git dar's on de Gospel train,
Praise Gawd fo' de Promis' Lan'!

Oh de Promis' Lan', oh de Canaa' Lan',
Praise Gawd fo' de Promis' Lan'!

De train is a-leavin', who'll git on?
Git on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!
Hurry up mou'ner, or de train'll be gone,
Git on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!
Train gwine tek yuh ter de Rivah Jerdan,
Dere de Lawd'll lose yo' back f'om ev'y burden,
Row yuh cross de wahtah fo' de one big herdin',
Git on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!

Sister, git on boa'd, Brudder, git on boa'd,
Git on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!

Yuh can res' yo' hat by de gates of pearl,
I's on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!
Yuh ainy gwine ter need it in de yuther worl',
I's on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!
A golden crown's awaitin' dar fo' you an' me,
A hund'ed head of angels singin' 'Lawd, I's free
Oh sinner, w'en de train leaves, whar'll 'yuh be?
I's on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!
Oh mou'ner, I'm on boa'd' backslider' I's on boa'd,
I's on boa'd fo' de Promis' Lan'!

So brederen, ponder on de words I say,
Ev'ybody livin' got ter die,
It mought be ter-morrer or it mought be ter-day
But ev'body livin' got ter die.
De rich an' de poah, an' de black an' de white,
De ones doin' evil an' de ones doin' right,
Oh sinner spose de Lawd wuz ter call yuh ter-night --
Cause ev'body livin' got ter die.





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