(Verse 1)
Oh! Lemuel!
Oh! Lemuel my lark
Oh Lemuel my beau
I’s guine to gib a ball tonight
I’d hab you for to know;
But if you want to dance
Just dance outside de door;
Cayse your feet so berry large
Dey’ll cover all de floor
Oh! Lem! Lem! Lem! Lemuel I say!
Go down to de cotton field
And bring de boys away

(Chorus)
Go down to de cotton field!
Go down, I say!
Go down and call de N***a boys all:
We’ll work no more today

(Verse 2)
Oh! Lemuel my hope
Oh! Lemuel my joy
I’ll tell you who’ll be at de ball
My woolly headed boy
Dere’s Nelly Bly, you know
And Juliana Snow
Dere’s cane-brake Kitty likes de boys
And she’ll be sure to go
Oh! Lem! Lem! Lem! Leumel I say!
Go down to de cotton field
And bring de boys away
(Chorus)
Go down to de cotton field!
Go down, I say!
Go down and call de N***a boys all:
We’ll work no more today

(Verse 3)
Oh! Lemuel is tall
Oh! Lemuel is fair
Oh, Lemuel has gone to day
To take de morning air
He makes de fiddle hum
He makes de banjo tum
He rattles on de old jaw bone
And beats upon de drum
Oh! Lem! Lem! Lem! Lemuel I say!
Go down to de cotton field
And bring de boys away

(Chorus)
Go down to de cotton field!
Go down, I say!
Go down and call de N***a boys all:
We’ll work no more today