Mythology & Folklore
I'll Wear Me a Cotton Dress
From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)
Oh, will you wear red? Oh, will you wear red?
Oh, will you wear red, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear red,
It's too much lak Missus' head.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Oh, will you wear blue? Oh, will you wear blue?
Oh, will you wear blue, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear blue,
It's too much lak Missus' shoe.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
You sholy would wear gray? You sholy would wear gray?
You sholy would wear gray, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear gray,
It's too much lak Missus' way.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Well, will you wear white? Well, will you wear white?
Well, will you wear white, Milly Biggers?
"I won't wear white,
I'd get dirty long 'fore night.
I'll wear me a cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Now, will you wear black? Now, will you wear black?
Now, will you wear black, Milly Biggers?
"I mought wear black,
Case it's de color o' my back;
An' it looks lak my cotton dress,
Dyed wid copperse an' oak-bark."
Cite this poem
MLA
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “I'll Wear Me a Cotton Dress.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/175/.
Chicago
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “I'll Wear Me a Cotton Dress.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/175/.
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