by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906)
The Boogah Man
Language: English
W'en de evenin' shadders Come a-glidin' down, Fallin' black an' heavy Ovah hill an' town, Ef you listen keerful, Keerful ez you kin, So 's you boun' to notice Des a drappin' pin; Den you 'll hyeah a funny Soun' ercross de lan'; Lay low; dat's de callin' Of de Boogah Man! _Woo-oo woo-oo!_ _Hyeah him ez he go erlong de way;_ _Woo-oo, woo-oo!_ _Don' you wish de night 'ud t'un to day?_ _Woo-oo, woo-oo!_ _Hide yo' little peepers 'hind yo' han;_ _Woo-oo, woo-oo!_ _Callin' of de Boogah Man._ W'en de win 's a-shiverin' Thoo de gloomy lane, An' dey comes de patterin' Of de evenin' rain, W'en de owl's a-hootin', Out daih in de wood, Don' you wish, my honey, Dat you had been good? 'T ain't no use to try to Snuggle up to Dan; Bless you, dat's de callin' Of de Boogah Man! Ef you loves yo' mammy, An' you min's yo' pap, Ef you nevah wriggles Outen Sukey's lap; Ef you says yo' "Lay me" Evah single night 'Fo' dey tucks de kivers An' puts out de light, Den de rain kin pattah Win' blow lak a fan, But you need n' bothah 'Bout de Boogah Man!
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906), "The Boogah Man", from Lyrics of Love and Laughter, first published 1903 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Mary Jordan Lea , "The Boogah Man", published 1910. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-27
Line count: 44
Word count: 201