| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 483. Massa’s in de Cold Ground |
| | | By Stephen Collins Foster |
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| ROUND de meadows am a-ringing | |
| De darkeys’ mournful song, | |
| While de mocking-bird am singing, | |
| Happy as de day am long. | |
| Where de ivy am a-creeping, | 5 |
| O’er de grassy mound, | |
| Dere old massa am a-sleeping, | |
| Sleeping in de cold, cold ground. | |
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| Down in de corn-field | |
| Hear dat mournful sound: | 10 |
| All de darkeys am a-weeping,— | |
| Massa’s in de cold, cold ground. | |
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| When de autumn leaves were falling, | |
| When de days were cold, | |
| ’T was hard to hear old massa calling, | 15 |
| Cayse he was so weak and old. | |
| Now de orange tree am blooming | |
| On de sandy shore, | |
| Now de summer days am coming,— | |
| Massa nebber calls no more. | 20 |
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| Massa make de darkeys love him, | |
| Cayse he was so kind; | |
| Now dey sadly weep above him, | |
| Mourning cayse he leave dem behind. | |
| I cannot work before to-morrow, | 25 |
| Cayse de tear-drop flow; | |
| I try to drive away my sorrow, | |
| Pickin’ on de old banjo. | |
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| Down in de corn-field | |
| Hear dat mournful sound: | 30 |
| All de darkeys am a-weeping,— | |
| Massa’s in de cold, cold ground. | |
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