A Comparison

I’d ruther lay out here among the trees,
With the singing birds and the bumble bees,
A-knowing that I can do as I please,
Than to live what folks call a life of ease –
Up thar in the city.

For I don’t ‘xactly understan’
Where the comfort is for any man,
In walking hot bricks and using a fan,
And enjoying himself as he says he can –
Up thar in the city.

It’s kinder lonesome, mebbe, you’ll say,
A-livin’ out here day after day,
In this kinder easy careless way,
But an hour out here’s better’n a day –
Up thar in the city.

As for that, just look at the flowers aroun’,
A-peepin’ their heads up all over the groun,’
And the fruit a-bendin’ the trees ‘way down;
You don’t find sech things as these in town –
Or, ruther, in the city.

As I said afore, sech things as these –
The flowers, the birds, and the bumble bees,
And a-livin’ out here among the trees,
Where you can take your ease and do’s you please –
Make it better’n in the city.

Now, all the talk don’t ‘mount to snuff
‘Bout this kinder life a-being rough,
And I’m sure it’s plenty good enough,
And ‘tween you and me, ‘taint as tough –
As livin’ in the city.