Lyrics

[Verse 1] Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth And was bought for a bag full of gold He was reckon'd as part of the salt of the earth And he died long ago, very old And his last sad request as they lay him to rest In the trunk of an old hollow tree "Wake my up" was his charge at the first break of day "Wake me up for the great Jubilee" [Chorus] There's a great time comin' and it's not far off Been long, long, long on the way So go and tell Elijah to hurry up, Pomp And meet us by the gum tree down in the swamp For to wake Nicodemus today [Verse 2] Nicodemus was never the sport of the lash Though the bullets has oft cross'd his path Therе were none of his mastеrs so bold or so rash As to face such a man in his wrath But his great heart with kindness was filled to the brim He obeyed who was born to command And he long'd for the morning which then was so dim 'Tis the morning which now is at hand [Chorus] There's a great time comin' and it's not far off Been long, long, long on the way So go and tell Elijah to hurry up, Pomp And meet us by the gum tree down in the swamp For to wake Nicodemus today