| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| ’Weh Down Souf |
| | | Daniel Webster Davis |
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| O, DE BIRDS ar’ sweetly singin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf, | |
| An’ de banjer is a-ringin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf; | |
| An’ my heart it is a-sighin’, | 5 |
| Whil’ de moments am a-flyin’, | |
| Fur my hom’ I am a-cryin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf. | |
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| Dar de pickaninnies ’s playin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf, | 10 |
| An’ fur dem I am a-prayin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf; | |
| An’ when I gits sum munny, | |
| Yo’ kin bet I’m goin’, my hunny, | |
| Fur de lan’ dat am so sunny, | 15 |
| ’Weh down Souf. | |
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| Whil’ de win’ up here’s a-blowin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf | |
| De corn is sweetly growin’, | |
| ’Weh down Souf. | 20 |
| Dey tells me here ub freedum, | |
| But I ain’t a-gwine to heed um, | |
| But I’se gwine fur to lebe um, | |
| Fur ’weh down Souf. | |
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| I bin up here a-wuckin’, | 25 |
| From ’weh down Souf, | |
| An’ I ain’t a bin a-shurkin’— | |
| I’m frum ’weh down Souf; | |
| But I’m gittin’ mighty werry, | |
| An’ de days a-gittin’ drerry, | 30 |
| An’ I’m hongry, O, so berry, | |
| Fur my hom’ down Souf. | |
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| O, de moon dar shines de brighter, | |
| ’Weh down Souf, | |
| An’ I know my heart is lighter, | 35 |
| ’Weh down Souf; | |
| An’ de berry thought brings pledjur, | |
| I’ll be happy dar’dout medjur, | |
| Fur dar I hab my tredjur, | |
| ’Weh down Souf. | 40 |
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