Somebody's Mammy

All day through, with her outstretched palms,
She is sitting -- poor Africa -- begging for bread;
From the passers-by she is taking alms,
But they're marching on with a heavy tread.

O'er her face of ebon a smile breaks forth,
Like a burst of sunshine after the rain,
While the wrinkles mark its rapid growth --
Now she is smiling and bowing again.

O! somebody's Mammy she used to be,
Somebody's Mammy in days long gone by --
Some little tot sat upon her knee
When it felt all blue and wanted to cry.

And her leathery breast some little thing
has used for a pillow in days long gone by;
When she held it closely to gently sing
A plaintive and wind-combed lullaby.

Somebody's Mammy! with outstretched palms,
She is sitting -- poor Africa -- begging for bread;
From the passers-by she is asking aims,
But they're marching on with a heavy tread.