Big Dog

[Mister]

There's my field, there's my cattle, there's my men

[Ensemble]

He wants his ham hocks hot

And his lemonade cold

Don't want to hear no lip

Just do what you told

Pluck them chickens

Scrub them pots and pans

You gonna churn that butter

'Til it cramp your hands

If you think hard work

Been doggin' you before

Huh!

Get ready for the big dog

[Mister]

This my house

[Mister]

Fix that (work!)

Broken window 'fore the (work!)

Rain come in

You got to (work!)

Kill that rat with this here (work!)

Rollin' pin

Mop this floor

Pick up all this mess

You know that cleanliness

Next to godliness

[Ensemble]

If you think hard work

Been doggin' you before

Get ready for the big dog!

Huh!

[Mister] / [Celie]

Sweep this barn, milk that cow/Nettie go to the schoolhouse

Water from the well, fields to plow/Get her college degree

Brush my horse, feed that pig/Nettie teachin' her children

Tree to chop, ditch to dig/To spell Tennessee

Fetch them eggs, pitch that hay/Won't be time for a garden

Patch the fence so the billy don't stray/No birds gonna sing

Pull those turnips, hose those greens/Won't be time for my readin'

Feed the baby goats till the last one weans

[Ensemble]

Get ready for the big dog

(Work!)

Huh!

[Mister]

Harpo! I warned you about this

Get my belt, I'm gon' beat you clean to death

[Young Harpo]

No! Pa!

[Mister]

Come here!

[Celie]

When I lay me down to sleep

I will say my prayer

[Mister]

You spill your food on the floor, you gonna eat it off the floor, you little pig

[Celie]

That God love me so deep

He will promise our souls to keep

Together

[Mister]

Bedroom's upstairs

[Celie]

I say a prayer

[Ensemble]

He like his bath real hot

Like it 'bout to boil

You got to rub his feet

With some liniment oil

Shave his whiskers

Hope it's understood

That you best not cut him

Or he beat you good

If you think hard work been doggin' you before

Get ready for the big dog

Huh!