Mas’r – you got yo hands wrapped ‘round me

Oh no sir, no. You ain’t nev’r gon’ set me free

Cause I’s yo help – yes, I’s yo slave

I be that way ‘til I hits the grave

An’ no one know how sad I feel

But oh sir, yes sir – this I feel ‘s real.

Oh mas’r you gots yo mind stuck on me

An’ you said you’s nev’r gon’ let me be

Cause I’s yo food - yo butt’r ‘n bread

An’ I be that way ‘til I be dead

Oh – and no one know how you treat me so

But mas’r I’m gon’ run. One day I go.

Mas’r – take yo eye off me

Yes, white man, please jus’ set me free

Cause I’s yo bitch, tho’ you call me son

You think I be like that ‘til I gone

But maybe not, cause I’s grow’n tired

An’ though my bones be weak, my heart got fire.

Oh mas’r one day yo time gon’ come

An’ you sir,

yes you sir,

gon’ beat that drum

An’ no sir, no sir, I ain’t gon’ stop

Until you, white man, jus’ fall ‘n drop

Upon those knees that stand so proud

An’ scream up to the movin' cloud

You’s gon’ beg for mercy, ‘way I do

Oh yes sir, yes sir,

That gon’ be you.

An’ when you gone, an’ eatin’ dirt

Off gon’ come this ragg’d shirt

Cause no mo’ will I take the lash

An’ no mo’ will you think me trash

Oh no sir, no. That won’t be me

Cause one day, mas’r

I be set free.