Mother to Son Hall Johnson

Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair
It’s had tacks in it
And splinters
And boards torn up
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on
And reachin’ landin’s
And turnin’ corners
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light
So boy, don’t you turn back
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey
I’se still climbin’
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair