Now, freemen, listen to my song, a story I’ll relate,

It happened in de valley of de ole Kentucky State:

Dey marched me out into de fiel’, at every break of day,

And work me dar till late sunset, widout a cent of pay.

Chorus.—Dey work me all de day,

Widout a bit of pay,

And thought, because dey fed me well,

I would not run away.

Massa gave me his ole coat, an’ thought I’d happy be,

But I had my eye on de North Star, an’ thought of liberty;