Night Funeral In Harlem

 Night funeral
 In Harlem:

 Where did they get
 Them two fine cars?

Insurance man, he did not pay--
His insurance lapsed the other day--
Yet they got a satin box
for his head to lay.


 Night funeral
 In Harlem:

 Who was it sent
 That wreath of flowers?

Them flowers came
from that poor boy's friends--
They'll want flowers, too,
When they meet their ends.


 Night funeral 
 in Harlem:

 Who preached that
 Black boy to his grave?

Old preacher man
Preached that boy away--
Charged Five Dollars
His girl friend had to pay.


 Night funeral
 In Harlem:

When it was all over
And the lid shut on his head
and the organ had done played 
and the last prayers been said 
and six pallbearers
Carried him out for dead
And off down Lenox Avenue
That long black hearse done sped,
 The street light 
 At his corner
 Shined just like a tear--
That boy that they was mournin'
Was so dear, so dear
To them folks that brought the flowers,
To that girl who paid the preacher man--
It was all their tears that made
 That poor boy's
 Funeral grand.


 Night funeral
 In Harlem.

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