[spoken]
The "Good Time Coming" is almost here!
It was long, long, long on the way!
Now run and tell Elijah to hurry up Pump
And meet us at the gumtree down in the swamp
To wake Nicodemus today

[spoken]
Nicodemus, the slave was of African birth
And was bought for a bagful of gold;
He was reckon'd as part of the salt of the earth
But he died years ago, very old
'Twas his last sad request so we laid him away
In the trunk of an old hollow tree;
"Wake me up!" was his charge, "at the first break of day --
Wake me up for the great Jubilee!"

Fellas don't you see the light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Almost gone, the gloomy night
The day of liberty's coming

Hi-ho, we gladly sing
Aloud, loud our voices ring
Good news, the Lord he bring
Now let my people go, oh
Just you look and see that light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Almost gone, the gloomy night
The day of liberty's coming

The Union folks they wait so long
We think they never was coming, coming
And Secesh he got so strong
We think they never was coming

Now Uncle Abe he say
Come, Massa, while you may
And for the slave he'll pay
For he must let us go, oh

Just you look and see that light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Oh, the blessed, blessed sight
The day of liberty's coming

[spoken]
He was a prophet -- at least was as wise --
For he told of the battles to come;
And he trembled with dread when he roll'd up his eyes
And we heeded the shake of his thumb
Though he clothed us with fear, yet the garments he wore
Were in patches at elbow and knee;
And he still wears the suit that he used to of yore
As he sleeps in the old hollow tree
Just you look and see that light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Almost gone, the gloomy night
The day of liberty's coming

[spoken]
Nicodemus was never the sport of the lash
Though the bullet has oft cross'd his path;
There were none of his masters so brave or so rash
As to face such a man in his wrath
Yet his great heart with kindness was filled to the brim --
He obeyed who was born to command;
But he long'd for the morning which then was so dim --
For the morning which now is at hand

By folks in this sweet trust
The day of liberty's coming, coming
We will fight and die for us
The day of liberty's coming

Yes, yes, we'llfight and sing
Loud, loud our voices ring
Soon, soon, the mighty king
Will let his people

Just you look and see that light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Now we'll help the Yankees fight
The day of liberty's coming
Oh, the Lord will bring it right
The day of liberty's coming, coming
From this dreadful bloody fight
The day of liberty's coming

Shout, everyone shout and sing
Aloud, let your voices ring
Soon, soon the mighty King
Will let his people go, oh

Just you look and see that light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Yes, the Lord will bring it right
The day of liberty's coming

[spoken]
'Twas a long weary night -- we were almost in fear
That the future was more than he knew;
'Twas a long weary night -- but the morning is near
And the words of our prophet are true
There are signs in the sky that the darkness is gone --
There are tokens in endless array;
For when the storm which has seemingly banished the dawn
Only hastens the advent of day

Just you look and see that light
The day of liberty's coming, coming
Yes, the Lord will bring it right
The day of liberty's coming