PoemPickin Em Up and Layin Em Down
Author / PoetMaya Angelou
TagsBaby, Down, Girl

There’s a long-legged girl
in San Francisco
by the Golden Gate.
She said she’d give me all I wanted
but I just couldn’t wait.
I started to
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
gettin to the next town
Baby.

There’s a pretty brown
in Birmingham.
Boys, she little and cute
but when she like to tied me down
I had to grab my suit and started to
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
getting to the next town
Baby.

I met that lovely Detroit lady
and thought my time had come
But just before I said “I do”
I said “I got to run” and started to
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
getting to the next town
Baby.

There ain’t no words for what I feel
about a pretty face
But if I stay I just might miss
a prettier one some place
I started to
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
Pickin em up
and layin em down,
getting to the next town
Baby.

Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
4 Apr 1928 - 28 May 2014
Region: North America
Period: Contemporary
Movement: Black Arts Movement
Awards: Grammy Awards, National Medal of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom

more poems by Maya Angelou

Poem NameTopic
The Week of DianaColor, Crown, Humor
The Rock Cries Out To Us TodayDarkness, Destiny, Floor
The TravellerHome, Night, Store
The Black Family PledgeAncestor, Children, Cry
When I Think About MyselfFolk, Joke, Lying
When Great Trees FallBloom, Die, Fall
We Had HimMoon, Style, Summer
They Went HomeHip, Home, Lip
These Yet To Be United StatesAnger, Curse, Fear
Son to MotherIgnorance, Land, Soul

all poems by Maya Angelou

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