Lawdy, O Lawdy, captain, I won’t let on.
O Lawd, captain, captain, O Lawd,
Won’t you let me go home?
Captain tol’ me I have to wait,
O Lawd, till I work out my time.
Captain call me an’ I laugh,
Cap’n get shoe shine off my britches.
O captain, don’t think hard of me,
O Lawd, captain, I don’t mean no harm.
Captain, captain, don’t mean no harm,