Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BOATMAN'S DANCE, by DANIEL DECATUR EMMETT Poet's Biography First Line: Over de mountains, slick as an eel Last Line: Chorus. | ||||||||
Ober de mountains, slick as an eel, De boatman slide down on his heel; He hop in de long boat brisk as a flea, Den hoist up Anchor and put to sea O, dance de boatman dance; O, dance de boatman dance; Dance all night, Till de broad daylight, Den go home wid de gals in de morning. De boatman dance, de boatman sing, De boatman up to ebery ting; When de boatman gets on shore, He spends his money an works for more. Chorus. De Osyter boat should keep to de shore, De fishin smack should venture more, De Schoner sails before de wind, De Steamboat leabes a streak behind Chorus. I went on board de odder day, To see what de boatmen had to say; Dare I let my passion loose Dey cram me in de Callaboose. Chorus. I've come dis time, I'll come no more; Let me loose I'll go on shore; Sez dey ole hoss we're a bully crew, Wid a hoosier Mate and Captain too. Chorus. When you go to de boatman's ball, Dance wid my wife or don't dance at all; Sky blue jacket an tarpolin hat, Look out my boys for de nine-tail cat. Chorus. De boatman is a thrifty man, Dar's none can do as de boatman can; I nebber see a putty gal in my life, But dat she was a boatman's wife. Chorus. When de boatman blows his horn, Look out old man, your hog is gone; He cotched my sheep, he cotched my shoat, Den put 'em in de bag an toat 'em to de boat. Chorus. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMFORT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A BALLAD OF ATHLONE; OR, HOW THEY BROKE DOWN THE BRIDGE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE THOSE VARIOUS SCALPELS by MARIANNE MOORE ALFARABI; THE WORLD-MAKER. A RHAPSODICAL FRAGMENT by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE POOR MAN'S PIG by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE FOURFOLD ASPECT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING ON CLEADA'S HILL THE MOON IS BRIGHT by JEREMIAH JOSEPH CALLANAN |
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