The Preacher and the Slave

1

Long-haired preachers come out every night

Try to tell you what’s wrong and what’s right

But when asked how ’bout something to eat

They will answer in voices so sweet

 

refrain 1

You will eat, bye and bye

In that glorious land above the sky

Work and pray, live on hay

You’ll get pie in the sky when you die

 

2

And the Starvation Army, they play

And they sing and they clap and they pray

Till they get all your coin on the drum

Then they tell you when you’re on the bum

 

3

Holy Rollers and Jumpers come out

And they holler, they jump and they shout

Give your money to Jesus, they say

He will cure all diseases today

 

4

If you fight hard for children and wife

Try to get something good in this life

You’re a sinner and bad man, they tell

When you die you will sure go to hell.

 

5

Workingmen of all countries, unite

Side by side we for freedom will fight

When the world and its wealth we have gained

To the grafters we’ll sing this refrain

 

refrain 2

You will eat, bye and bye

When you’ve learned how to cook and how to fry

Chop some wood, ’twill do you good

Then you’ll eat in the sweet bye and bye