Temptation

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by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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I done got ‘uligion, honey, an’ I’s happy ez
a king;
Evahthing I see erbout me ‘s jes’ lak sunshine
in de spring;
An’ it seems lak I do’ want to do anothah blessid
thing
But jes’ run an’ tell de neighbors, an’ to shout
an’ pray an’ sing.

I done shuk my fis’ at Satan, an’ I’s gin de worl’
my back;
I do’ want no hendrin’ causes now a-both’rin’
in my track;
Fu’ I’s on my way to glory, an’ I feels too sho’
to miss.
W’y, dey ain’t no use in sinnin’ when ‘uligion ‘s
sweet ez dis.

Talk erbout a man backslidin’ w’en he’s on de
gospel way;
No, suh, I done beat de debbil, an’ Temptation’s
los’ de day.
Gwine to keep my eyes right straight up, gwine
to shet my eahs, an’ see
Whut ole projick Mistah Satan’s gwineto try to
wuk on me.

Listen, whut dat soun’ I hyeah dah? ‘tain’t no
one commence to sing;
It’s a fiddle; git erway dah! don’ you hyeah
dat blessid thing?
W’y, dat’s sweet ez drippin’ honey, ‘cause, you
knows, I draws de bow,
An’ when music’s sho’ ‘nough music, I’s de one
dat’s sho’ to know.

W’y, I’s done de double shuffle, twell a bbody
could n’t res’,
Jes’ a-hyeahin’ Sam de fiddlah play dat chune
his level bes’;
I could cut a mighty caper, I could gin a mighty
fling
Jes’ right now, I’s mo’ dan suttain I could cut
de pigeon wing.

Look hyeah, whut’s dis I’s been sayin’? whut
on urf’s tuk holt o’ me?
Dat ole music come nigh runnin’ my ‘uligion up
a tree!
Cleak out wif dat dah ole fiddle, don’ you try
dat trick agin;
Did n’t think I could be tempted, but you lak to
made me sin!


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