De da'kest hour, dey allus say,
Is des’ befo’ de dawn,
But it's moughty ha'd a-waitin’
W'ere de night goes frownin’ on;
An’ it's moughty ha'd a-hopin’
W'en de clouds is big an’ black,
An’ all de t'ings you‘ s waited fu’
Has failed, er gone to wrack —
But des’ keep on a-joggin’ wid a little bit o’ song,
De mo'n is allus brightah w'en de night's been long.
Dey‘ s lots o’ knocks you‘ s got to tek
Befo’ yo’ journey‘ s done,
An’ dey‘ s times w'en you‘ ll be wishin’
Dat de weary race was run;
W'en you want to give up tryin’
An’ des’ float erpon de wave,
W'en you do n't feel no mo’ sorrer
Ez you t'ink erbout de grave —
Den, des’ keep on a-joggin’ wid a little bit o’ song,
De mo'n is allus brightah w'en de night's been long.
De whup-lash sting a good deal mo’
De back hit‘ s knowed befo’,
An’ de burden‘ s allus heavies’
Whaih hits weight has made a so’;
Dey is times w'en tribulation
Seems to git de uppah han’
An’ to whip de weary trav'lah
‘ Twell he ai n't got stren'th to stan’ —
But des’ keep on a-joggin’ wid a little bit o’ song,
De mo'n is allus brightah w'en de night's been long.