The Old Front Gate
W’en daih ‘s chillun in de house,Dey keep on a-gittin’ tall;But de folks don’ seem to seeDat dey ‘s growin’ up at all,‘Twell dey fin’ out some fine dayDat de gals has ‘menced to grow,Wen dey notice as dey passDat de front gate ‘s saggin’ low.
Wen de hinges creak an’ cry,An’ de bahs go slantin’ down,You kin reckon dat hit’s timeFu’ to cas’ yo’ eye erroun’,’Cause daih ain’t no ‘sputin’ dis,Hit’s de trues’ sign to showDat daih ‘s cou’tin’ goin’ onWen de ol’ front gate sags low.
Oh, you grumble an’ complain,An’ you prop dat gate up right;But you notice right nex’ dayDat hit’s in de same ol’ plight.So you fin’ dat hit’s a rule,An’ daih ain’ no use to blow,W’en de gals is growin’ up,Dat de front gate will sag low.
Den you t’ink o’ yo’ young days,W’en you cou’ted Sally Jane,An’ you so’t o’ feel ashamedFu’ to grumble an’ complain,’Cause yo’ ricerlection says,An’ you know hits wo’ds is so,Dat huh pappy had a timeWid his front gate saggin’ low.
So you jes’ looks on an’ smilesAt ’em leanin’ on de gate,Tryin’ to t’ink whut he kin sayFu’ to keep him daih so late,But you lets dat gate erlone,Fu’ yo’ ‘sperunce goes to show,‘Twell de gals is ma’ied off,It gwine keep on saggin’ low.