WHEN I was a little pickanin’,

Down on Sweet Gum plantation,

I used to heah de preacher preach,

An’ screech an’ screech an’ screech,

Expoundin’ out salvation.

He’d open up dat Bible-book

Befo’ de congregation,

An’, sir, he’d read dem Scriptures out,

An’ shout an’ shout an’ shout an’ shout,

Widout no education.