Under the Torchlight

Master ses dat I can't lern
from dat blue spellin' book he has
He also ses dat I will always
be a dumb nigger that works fo him

Master never 'lowed me to see
the blue-back book or to try to learn
I think to meself
I'll git that book and
by and by i'll lern how to read and learn
'fore I die

I slip 'round and git hold
of the holy book
along with the blue back one
I hide it under my bed
till the sky 'came pitch dark

Way in the night
I light a little pine torch
git dat spelling book
and study it
Under the torch light
I read from the blue-back one
and from the holy bible too.

Master may ses dat I can't lern
I know deep inside I do
Master does not know my little secret,
Because as you see, I'm a dumb nigger no more
and that works for him? I don't think so
Leaving way in the night
Old Master won't notice that his slave has gone
with his blue-back book and his torch light.