Way Down South in Dixie

And the gods of diamond and jade,Sit silently on their temple shelvesWhile the peopleAre afraid.Yet the ivory gods,And the ebony gods,And the gods of diamond-jade,Are only silly puppet godsThat the people themselvesHave made.

I heard a Negro play.Down on Lenox Avenue the other nightBy the pale dull pallor of an old gas lightHe did a lazy sway ….He did a lazy sway ….To the tune o’ those Weary Blues.With his ebony hands on each ivory keyHe made that poor piano moan with melody.O Blues!Swaying to and fro on…

Being wined and dined,Answering the usual questionsThat come to white mindWhich seeks demurelyTo Probe in polite wayThe why and wherewithalOf darkness U.S.A.–Wondering how things got this wayIn current democratic night,Murmuring gentlyOver fraises du bois,‘I’m so ashamed of being white.’The lobster is delicious,The wine divine,And center of attentionAt the damask table, mine.To be a Problem onPark…

I ain’t sent:I know I can’tbe President.What don’t bugthem white kidssure bugs me:We know everybodyain’t free.Lies written downfor white folksain’t for us a-tall:Liberty And Justice–Huh!–For All?

LISTEN HUNGRY ONES!Look! See what Vanity Fair says about thenew Waldorf-Astoria:‘All the luxuries of private home. . . .’Now, won’t that be charming when the last flop-househas turned you down this winter?Furthermore:‘It is far beyond anything hitherto attempted in the hotelworld. . . .’ It cost twenty-eight million dollars. The fa-mous Oscar Tschirky is in…

When I was home deSunshine seemed like gold.Since I come up North deWhole damn world’s turned cold.I was a good boy,Never done no wrong.Yes, I was a good boy,Never done no wrong,But this world is wearyAn’ de road is hard an’ long.I fell in love withA gal I thought was kind.Fell in love withA gal…