YES, WEES GOT ER FLAG.
Reading edition
Ise hyeahd while in mah ramblin’s Dat ah mos’ subnoxshus choon, Dat ebry bressed nayshun’s Got er flag excep’ de coon. I hyeah de white fo’ks sing it, An’ I hyeah de niggahs, too— De way de niggahs sing it Seems dey ’cep’ de thing fo’ true. Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! It sut’ly am mos’ ’gustin’ Way de niggahs sing de thing. Dey clap dey ban’s an’ hollah Sot de kentry all er ring. I doesn’t blame de white fo’ks Ha’f ez much I do de coon Fo’ singin’ an’ er whis’lin’ Sech er “singyooaytin’” chune. Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! De little pickahninnies Why dey sing dat meetah, too! Dey clap dey han’s an’ hollah, ’Zackly lak de ol’ fo’ks do— An’ when I hyeah dem sing it Ez dey dance an’ joobah pat— I feels lak walzin’ to ’em An’ jes’ knock’n dem out dey hat. Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! De blood ub ah ol’ foddahs Ah er cry in’ fum de groun’. Lissun! chillun, lissun! Doan’ yo’ hyeah de doleful soun’? Ergin’ sech kine ub ’spreshuns An’ er gin sech kine ub choons, “Dat ebry race an’ nayshun’s Got er flag excep’ de coon.” Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! Dey fo’git when Bruddah Linkkum Gibb er call in sixty-one. Fo’ fo’ks to jine de army Ebry niggah grabb’d his gun! He lef his little cabin While de ole fo’ks stood in tears. To fight fo’ dis hyeah kentry Ez true faithful volunteers. Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! Doh de po’ ol’ niggah Doesn’t allus git his rights. Fo’ his loyal kindness Lots er kicks an’ lots ub smites. Yet ’twas ’neef dat banner Ha’f er millun niggahs fought. He’p’d to win de vict’rys Dat dis mighty kentry wrought. Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! Let all ub de niggahs Teach dey chillun all to love. Dat ol’ starry banner Dat am floatin’ up er ’bove. Spite ub all ah trubble Things dat makes ah progress lagg, ’Membah dat Ol’ Glory Am ah bannah, am ah flag! Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true! Lissun! chillun, lissun! When dis niggah’s in his grave, Let dat dah ol’ banner O’er dis niggah ebbah wave. ’Kaze dat dah ol’ banner Undah which ah foddahs fought, Am de only banner Fo’ to love dat I was taught. Yes wees got er flag! It’s de red! de white! de blue! It’s de only one to which De niggahs should be true!
