Now, he jumped on the Pea
This is a man, he's seventy-five years old and leaves home
When he leaves home he stay away three long years
Then he come a-rackin back
And while he was gone he had two little chillen
Lil boy an a lil girl, wife at home

Wife lies down an she dreams tonight
That husband was comin' back
She sit up on the side the bed one night
She 'gan to sing, here what she said

Dreamed last night and all night, night befo'
Lord, I dreamed last night and all night, night befo'
She dreamed last night and-a all night, night befo'

Little boy jumped up and go in to his mama
Said mama, said, 'What did you dream?
Here what she says
'Heard your papa, knockin' on my do'
Thought I heard your papa knockin' on my do'
Heard your papa, knockin' on my do'

She asked 'fore she would take him back
And she was a good Christian
She told her preacher, said
'I wouldn't take him back when he comes'
But when he calmly walks to the do' to commence
Knocks on his do' and commence to cryin'

Cryin' babe, have I ever done you wrong?
Lordy cried, my babe have I ever done you wrong?
Lovin' babe, have I ever done you wrong?
You know good 'n well, I'd had to have done wrong
Been gone three long years and never wrote a speck
Sent her a nickel of money

And he sit down a'gin an cry a'gin
Ya'll he said

Ever I have honey, will you forgive me, please?
Lord, ever have, will you forgive me , please?
Ever I have Lord, will you forgive me, please?

Girl, she wouldn't take him back
When she heard him singin' out there
She walked through the do'
With her hands a-high in the air
And she looked up to the God in the sky
Here what she says

You's a long time comin'
A-honey but you will come here
You's a long time comin'
A-hon but you will come here
You's a long time comin'
Baby, but you will come here
She sit down an tol her little boy
His wife says, I want son to play the piano a piece
Since you been gone so long
Let him know what he's done learned
Since you been gone

And the little boy sit down, begin to play
His little piano a piece


She sit down, she commence to cryin'
Lordy, have mercy on me
Oh Lord-y, have mercy on me
Oh, someday another
Lord, I may be free

She had her another piece, little girl
She told her little girl
Get on the piano and play her piece
But the last piece, the little girl comes out
And kept playin' this