Lyrics:
Dere was an old Nigga, dey call'd him uncle Ned—
He's dead long ago, long ago!
He had no wool on de top ob his head—
De place whar de wool ought to grow.
chorus:
Den lay down de shubble and de hoe,
Hang up de fiddle and de bow:
No more hard work for poor Old Ned—
He's gone whar de good Niggas go,
No more hard work for poor Old Ned—
He's gone whar de good Niggas go.
His fingers were long like de cane in de brake,
He had no eyes for to see;
He had no teeth for to eat de corn cake,
So he had to let de corn cake be.
When Old Ned die Massa take it mighty hard,
De tears run down like de rain;
Old Missus turn pale and she gets berry sad,
Cayse she nebber see Old Ned again.
alternate last verse:
On a cold frosty morning poor Uncle Ned died
Masters tears down his cheeks ran like rain
Case he knew when poor Ned was under de ground
He'd neber see his like again.