Paul Laurence Dunbar
The Tuskegee Song
[Verse 1]
Tuskegee thou pride of the swift growing south
We pay thee our homage today
For the worth of thy teaching, the joy of thy care;
And the good we have known 'neath thy sway
Oh long-striving mothers of diligent sons
And daughters, whose strength is their pride
We will love thee forever, and ever shall walk
Trough the oncoming years at thy side
[Verse 2]
Thy hand we have held up the difficult steeps
When painful and slow was the pace
And onward and upward we've labored with thee
For the glory of God and our race
The fiеlds smile to greet us, the forests arе glad
The ring of the anvil and hoe
Have a music as thrilling and sweet as a harp
Which thou taught us to hear and to know
[Verse 3]
Oh, mother Tuskegee, thou shinest today;
As a gem in the fairest of lands;
Thou gavest the heav'n blessed power to see
The worth of our minds and our hands
We thank thee, we bless thee, we pray for thee years
Imploring with grateful accord
Full fruit for thy striving, time longer to strive
Sweet love and true labor's reward