Better Git Yer Learnin' - Our Native Daughters, Rhiannon Giddens

When I was just a little thing

I almost learned from Cousin Nick

Ol' Massah found out, sure enough

And poor old Nick, he got strung up

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Before it goes away

The year was 1863

The paper said that I was free

But no one read it to my ears

And so I slaved for two more years

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Before it goes away

A teacher came from Ohio

To learn us what we need to know

Before she told us what was what

She up and died of Whooping Cough

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Before it goes away

I heard about a school was free

Way out east in Tennessee

Before I got to go to town

The damned old reds had burned it down

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Before it goes away

So now that I am old and gray

Listen close to what I say

The white folks, they will write the show

If you can’t read, you’ll never know

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Before it goes away

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Better git yer learnin'

Before it goes away