A Banjo Song

I plays de banjo better now

Dan him dat taught me do,

Because he plays for all de worl',

An' I jes' plays for you.

He learn his chunes -- I jes' lets down

A banjo-string or two

Into the deepest of my heart,

An' draws up chunes for you.

Slowly dey comes swingin' up,

A-quiv'rin through an through,

Till wid a rush of tinglin' notes

Dey reaches light-an' you.

I never knows if dey will shine

Wet wind tears or dew;

I only knows dat, dew or tears,

Dey shine because of you.