A Long Time Ago

Oh way down South where I was born
I picked the cotton and held the corn

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

I'm going away to Mobile Bay
Where they spool the cotton by the bay

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

Five dollars a day's a white man paid
Buck and a half is a black man's paid

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

Rock them blocks and make them cry
Goddamn the best she did cry

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

Oh stretch your backs and haul away
Make your quota and pick your way

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

I wish I had a drink of rum
Sing you a song if I had one

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

Went from the North's a-blowin' a-gale
Blamed old Captain Crowden on the sail

(Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away
Away, I'm away, I'm away, I'm away)

I wished to God I'd never been born
To go around with the weight of the Lord