Life is Fine

By Nicholas D. Drummond
Adapted from a poem by Langston Hughes

I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn’t,
So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn’t a-been so cold
I might’ve sunk and died.

Oh it was cold,
Don’t want to see you cry.

I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn’t a-been so high
I might’ve jumped and died.

Oh it was high,
It was high, girl
Don’t want to see you cry

So since I’m still here livin’,
I guess I will live on.
I could’ve died for love-
But for livin’ I was born

Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry-
I’ll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.

Oh life is fine
As fine as wine, girl
Don’t want to see you cry.