"Bring Dat College Home" Poem

Dublin Core

Title

"Bring Dat College Home" Poem

Subject

Tennessee; African Americans--Appalachian Region; African Americans--Southern States; African American heritage; African American students; African Americans--Education; African Americans--Education--Southern States; African Americans -- Education (Higher) --Southern States. African American universities and colleges -- Southern States

Description

Words to the poem "Bring Dat College Home", a favorite of Dr. Miller W. Boyd. Dr. Boyd was the president of Morristown College.

Creator

Creator Unknown

Source

JoVita Wells

Publisher

Black in Appalachia

Date

September 12, 2019

Rights

This item can be used for private reflection and research, and not for commercial purposes.

Coverage

United States--Tennessee--Morristown

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

BRING DAT COLLEGE HOME


I’s been sending you to college for six or seven
years
Since the mornin’ dat you let’ me I’s been  sheddin
bitter tears
But I thought of dat ole sayin’ “Sunshine come behin’
de storm”,
So my young man, when you finish, you yes bring dat
college home.


I’s been scrubbin’ by the washtub, I’s been sewatin’
in de feil,
Many time I had to borry an’ I almost had to steal,
But I held on to my patience, beat def soap suds
into foam,
All de time my heart was sayin’ he’s wine bring dat
college home.


Folks here say you gwine be nothin’, you jus foolin’
time away,
But I shake my finger and tell dem “wait until some
future day”.
Se next’ June when dogwoods blossom and de bees begin
to swarm,
I’ll be waitin’ for to see you when you bring dat
college home.


Don’t you min’ dose folks here talkin’, day ain’t half
as good as you,
And dey’s bound to nag at good folks, dat’s all day
know how to do.
I’s got wood enough for winter, plenty clothes to keep
me warm
So you trot off to college, then next June, you bring
dat college home.


I don’t mean bring home the buildings or to wreck dam
good folks place,
Bring home Chirstian education, and dat high tone college grace,
You jes grab def fessor’s habits, hole em tight
thoo win’ an’ storm,
Den when you git your diploma, take em all and light
for home.


Show dese folks dat you got ‘em by the speeches dat
you make,
By the specks dat you’ll be wearin’ an’ de way your
coat tail shake
But don’t git above de people, settle down an’ cease to
rome,
Be a light in your own village, be a college right here
at home.


- Anonymous -

Original Format

Paper

Files

Collection

Morristown

Citation

Creator Unknown , “"Bring Dat College Home" Poem,” Black in Appalachia: Community History Digital Archive, accessed April 26, 2024, https://blackinappalachia.omeka.net/items/show/719.