[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
From “Porgy and Bess”, 1935
Words by Dubose Heyward and Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Bess, you is my woman now
You is, you is
An’ you mus’ laugh an’ sing an’ dance
For two instead of one
Want no wrinkle on yo’ brow, No how
Because de sorrow of de past is all done done
Oh, Bess, my Bess
De real happiness is jes’ begun
Porgy, I’s yo’ woman now, I is, I is
An’ I ain’t never goin’ nowhere ‘less you shares de fun
Dere’s no wrinkle on my brow, No how
But I ain’t goin’, you hear me sayin’
If you ain’ goin’, wid you I’m stayin’
Porgy, I’s yo’ woman now
I’s yours forever
Mornin’ time an’ evenin’ time
An’ summer time an’ winter time
Mornin’ time an’ evenin’ time
An’ summer time an’ winter time
Bess, you got yo’ man
Porgy, I’s your woman now
(Bess, you is my woman now and forever)
I is, I is, and I ain’t never goin’ nowhere
(Dis life is jes’ begun)
‘Less you shares de fun
(Bess, we two is one now an’ forever)
Dere’s no wrinkle on my brow
(Oh, Bess, don’t min’ dose women, you got yo’ Porgy)
Nohow (You loves yo’ Porgy)
But I ain’t goin’, you hear me sayin’
(I knows you means it)
If you ain’ goin’, wid you I’m stayin’
(I seen it in yo’ eyes, Bess)
Porgy, I’s yo’ woman, now (We’ll go swingin’)
I’s yours forever (Through de years a-singin’)
Mornin’ time an’ evenin’ time
An’ summer time an’ winter time
Mornin’ time an’ evenin’ time
An’ summer time an’ winter time
Oh, my Porgy, my man, Porgy (My Bess, my Bess)
From dis minute I’m tellin’ you
I keep dis vow
Porgy, I’s yo’ woman now
(Oh, my Bessie, we’s happy now, we’s one now)