Southern Days

[THE INTERLOCUTOR, spoken]
Now you boys are waiting for the verdict, sing that sing about home we love so much. Go on. Sing it!

[HAYWOOD, CLARENCE, ROY & OLEN]
Don’t you miss the sight of willows drippin’
On a balmy southern day?
Don’t you miss the taste of julep sippin’
As you while that day away?
And in the kitchen, mammy’s pullin’ pork
Bakin’ ribs, shuckin’ corn
Tell the truth now, don’t you bless
The Alabama mornin’ you were born?

[ALL]
Don’t you miss the sound of banjos strummin’
When the moon is shining bright?
Don’t you miss the sound of darkies hummin’
On a tranquil summer night?
Oh, it’s fun to just remember when
And long to hurry back again
To those lazy, lamented
And sweet lackadaisical
Lovable summer days

[THE INTERLOCUTOR, spoken]
Oh, how I used to love that song. I remember sittin’ on the porch, hearin’ it at twilight, risin’ up from thе cotton fields. You boys sing it so beautifully. Just the way I likе it. It wouldn’t hurt if you smiled a bit

[ALL]
And in the kitchen, mammy’s pulling pork
Cookin’ grits, scrubbin’ ham
Tell the truth now, don’t you miss
Those honeysuckle days in Alabam?

How the sights and sounds come back to me
Like my daddy hangin’ from a tree

[THE INTERLOCUTOR, spoken]
Here now, wait a minute—

[ALL]
Or the fire that made those crosses burn

[THE INTERLOCUTOR, spoken]
I don’t remember that part of the song

[ALL]
Don’t you wish that we could just return
To those languid and limpid
And listless and indolent
Lovable southern days?