Social Commentaries

We'll Stick to the Hoe

by Thomas W. Talley (collector) 1870–1952

From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)

Social Commentaries

We'll stick to de hoe, till de sun go down.
We'll rise w'en de rooster crow,
An' go to de fiel' whar de sun shine hot,
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
Yes, Chilluns, we'll all go!
We'll go to de fiel' whar de sun shine hot.
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

Oh, sing 'long boys, fer de wuk hain't hard!
Oh scrape an' clean up de row.
Fer de grass musn' grow, while de sun shine hot,
In de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
No, Chilluns. No, No!
Dat grass musn' grow, while de sun shine hot,
In de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

Don't think 'bout de time, fer de time hain't long.
Yō' life soon come an' go;
Den good-bye fiel' whar de sun shine hot,
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.
Yes, Chilluns. We'll all go!
Good-by to de fiel' whar de sun shine hot,
To de fiel' whar de sugar cane grow.

MLA

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “We'll Stick to the Hoe.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/181/.

Chicago

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “We'll Stick to the Hoe.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/181/.

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