Massa's in de Cold Ground

One of Stephen Foster's Plantation Songs. This song was published in 1852. It was one of Stephen Foster's more successful songs, earning him $906.76 in royalties of more than forty-five thousand copies. It was introduced by the Christy's Minstrels. Back ground music is in the key of C

Messenger Bag with harmonica logo

  6   -6   6   5  -4 4   7  -6
Round de mead-ows am a-ring-ing

-6   6   5     5    4   -4
De dark-eys' mourn-ful song,

  6   -6   6   5   -4   4   7  -6
While de mock-ing bird am sing-ing,

-6  6   5  4  5  -4   4
Hap-py as de day am long.

  6   -6 6 5  -4 4   7   -6
Where de i-vy am a-creep-ing

 6    5   5   4   -4
O'er de grass-y mound,

 6   -6   6   5 -4 4   7   -6
Dare old mas-sa am a-sleep-ing

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Sleep-ing in de cold, cold ground.

chorus

  7  -7 -6   6    5
Down in de corn-field 

 -6   6    5    4    -4
Hear dat mourn-ful sound:

 6  -6   6   5   -4 4   7  -6
All de dark-eyes am a-weep-ing,

-6   6    5  4   5   -4    4
Mas-sa's in de cold cold ground.

verse 3
Massa made de darkeys love him,
Cayse he was so kind,
Now dey sadly weep above him,
Mourning cayse he leave dem behind,
I cannot work before tomorrow,
Cayse de tear drop flow.
I try to drive away my sorrow
Pickin' on de old banjo.