Joy

Dey's nuffin' lak joy,
An' dey's nffin' lak shout
To drive erway de trouble
An' to shuffle out de doubt!
To stimmerlate er fellah
An' to jossle out de bone,
De pains, de aches an' stiffness
Lak er fiddle's aftah tone.

When de joy cums in,
An' de gloom goes out,
Er fellah's bound to sing,
'Bound to whis'le er to shout.
Ef he hain't mighty kyarful,
Matters not ef he's er deacon,
He'd step er little shottisch
Ef he'd hyear er fiddle squeakin'.

It brings out de smile,
An' it 'sperses 'way de frown,
An' lifts up de heart
Wid de burden bowed down;
An' yo' gloom an' yo' trouble
Roll erway lak er stone,
An' de song ub rejoicin'
Takes de places ub de groan.

It's effect erpon de soul
Am prezaxly lak de rain
Dat falls erpon de verdure
An' dat draps erpon de grain.
It 'vigorates an freshens
An' it tones de system up,
An' you drink to ovahflowin'
Wine fum life's enchantin' cup.

It doan cost nuffin',
Jes ez free ez am de air;
Ez free ez am de Gospul,
It's yo' pribbellidge to share.
Try er little, bruddah,
Try to git into de charm;
Ef it doesn't do yo' good,
It sho' woan' do yo' any harm.