Ole Man God: A Sermon

OLE MAN GOD came a-walkin’ in de gahden,
Walkin’ in de gahden at de even-time;
Ole Man God came a-walkin’ in de gahden —
Lawdy, it was cool in de even-time.

Round de big tree God came a-walkin’,
De big black tree dat Adam cain’t eat;
Round about de big tree God came a-walkin’,
De lions an’ de elephantses bowed at His feet.

‘Tree look good,’ say God, still a-walkin’,
‘Gwine have big crop o’ apples dis fall.’
Ole Man God, He’s doomed to disappointment —
Tree ain’t gwine bear fruit a-tall.

Ole Man God came a-walkin’ in de gahden,
Walkin’ after Adam in de even-time;
Ole Man God came a-walkin’ in de gahden —
Lawdy, it was cool in de even-time.

Walkin’ pas’ de tree God step on a sarpent —
Nasty black sarpent wif eyes all flame:
Sarpent run away fum God, wriggle ’tween de fence-pales;
Sarpent leave de gahden — Satan’s his name.

‘Whut you doin’ in dis heah gahden?
Whut you doin’?’ God scream loud.
God walk on an’ His min’ is troubled;
God walk on an’ His face wear a cloud.

Sarpent turn an’ laff den, laff at God Almighty —
Laff in His face an’ tell Him ’bout de tree:
God’s hot eyes make de sarpent squirm an’ wriggie —
Dat’s why he allays wriggle, you see.

‘Oh, Adam,’ wailed de Lord God, ‘oh, Adam,’wailed de God ob Hosts,
‘Whut you gone an’ done wit de unripe prize?
Oh, now, Adam, Ise bitter disappointed —
Dat tree was gwine be de ladder to de skies!’

God, He cubber up His face fum de gahden;
God, He weep for whut gone by;
God seek Adam, stumblin’ th’ough de dahkness
Wif His hands to His face, fo’ God still cry.

Walkin’ in de gahden, walkin’ in de gahden,
Ole Man God found Adam in his shame
Hidin’ fum de Lord God, hidin’ fum His walkin’;
Adam hide his face an’ say, ’De woman’s to blame/

God take away de tree an’ de gahden,
God take away de fruit an’ de tree;
God cast ’em out to walk in de desert:
God make ’em p’izzoners, settin’ of ’em free.

God go walkin’, walkin’ back to Heb’n,
Cubberin’ His face, fo’ God still cry;
God go walkin’ up de clouds into Heb’n—
Mebbe God come walk ag’in by’mbye.

Ole Man God came a-walkin’ in de gahden,
Adam ain’t dar in de even-time;
Ole Man God came a-walkin’ in de gahden —
Lawdy, it was cold in de even-time.

God gonna walk ag’in, God gonna walk ag’in —
Ole Man God comin’ back by’mbye;
Doan grieve, Fathuh: come fo’ yo’ chillun —
Doan hide yo’ face no mo’ — fo’ God still cry.

God come sometime, walkin’ in de gahden,
God come welcomin’ His chillun in de day;
God come a-walkin’ aftah all de sons ob Adam —
God come a-greetin’ us — let’s us pray!