Gone are the days

　　When my heart was young and gay

　　Gone are my friends

　　For the cotton fields away

　　Gone for the earth

　　To a better land, I know

　　I hear their gentle voices callin' me

　　Old Black Joe

　　I'm comin', I'm comin'

　　For my head is bendin' low

　　I hear their gentle voices calling

　　Old Black Joe

　　Why do I weep

　　When my heart should feel no pain

　　Why do I sigh

　　That my friends come not agin

　　Grieving for froms

　　Now departed long ago

　　I hear their gentle voices callin' me

　　Old Black Joe

　　I'm comin', I'm comin'

　　For my head is bendin' low

　　I hear their gentle voices calling

　　Old Black Joe

　　Where are the hearts once so happy and so free?

　　The children so dear that I held apon my knee?

　　Gone to the shore where my soul has long to go

　　I hear their gentle voices calling

　　'Old Black Joe'　

　　I'm comin'

　　I'm comin'

　　For my head's bendin' low

　　I hear their gentle voices calling

　　'Old Black Joe'