Better Git Yer Learnin’ (feat. Rhiannon Giddens)

When I was just a little thing I almost learned from Cousin Nick Ol' Massah found out, sure enough And poor old Nick, he got strung up Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Before it goes away The year was 1863 The paper said that I was free But no one read it to my ears And so I slaved for two more years Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Before it goes away A teacher came from Ohio To learn us what we need to know Before she told us what was what She up and died of Whooping Cough Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Before it goes away I heard about a school was free Way out east in Tennessee Before I got to go to town The damned old reds had burned it down Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Before it goes away So now that I am old and gray Listen close to what I say The white folks, they will write the show If you can't read, you'll never know Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Before it goes away Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Better git yer learnin' Before it goes away