1965

A Song

Composed by Simon Sargon

Jump Back! Song Collection

"A Song" is the fifth and final song of Simon Sargon's song cycle Jump Back!: African American Poetry in Song. The cycle sets five poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. The audio selection provided features Barbara Hill Moore, soprano, and Richard Gordon, piano. Used with the permission of the composer.

Text

Song (Wintah, summah, snow er shine)
by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Wintah, summah, snow er shine,
Hit’s all de same to me,
Ef only I kin call you mine,
An’ keep you by my knee.

Ha’dship, frolic, grief er caih,
Content by night an’ day,
Ef only I kin see you whaih
You wait beside de way.

Livin’, dyin’, smiles er teahs,
My soul will still be free,
Ef only thoo de comin’ yeahs
You walk de worl’ wid me.

Bird-song, breeze-wail, chune er moan,
What puny t’ings dey’ll be,
Ef w’en I’s seemin’ all erlone,
I knows yo’ hea’t’s wid me.

Audio

“A Song” (from “Jump Back!”)
Barbara Hill Moore (soprano) & Richard Gordon (piano)1:44

Simon Sargon

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer