A Florida Night
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Publication Information
Published in Lyrics of Lowly Life (1896)
Performed by Herbert Woodward Martin
Musical Settings
Simon Sargon, A Florida Night (Jump Back) (January 1965)
Recommended Citation
Dunbar, Paul Laurence, "A Florida Night" (1896). Dunbar Music Archive. 273.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/dunbar/273
COinS
Text
Win' a-blowin' gentle so de san' lay low, San' a little heavy f'om de rain, All de pa'ms a-wavin' an' a-weavin' slow, Sighin' lak a sinnah-soul in pain. Alligator grinnin' by de ol' lagoon, Mockin'-bird a-singin' to be big full moon. 'Skeeter go a-skimmin' to his fightin' chune (Lizy Ann's a-waitin' in de lane!). Moccasin a-sleepin' in de cyprus swamp; Need n't wake de gent'man, not fu' me. Mule, you need n't wake him w'en you switch an' stomp, Fightin' off a 'skeeter er a flea. Florida is lovely, she's de fines' lan' Evah seed de sunlight f'om de Mastah's han', 'Ceptin' fu' de varmints an' huh fleas an' san' An' de nights w'en Lizy Ann ain' free. Moon 's a-kinder shaddered on de melon patch; No one ain't a-watchin' ez I go. Climbin' of de fence so 's not to click de latch Meks my gittin' in a little slow. Watermelon smilin' as it say, "I' s free;" Alligator boomin', but I let him be, Florida, oh, Florida 's de lan' fu' me— (Lizy Ann a-singin' sweet an' low).