Mister:
There's my field, there's my cattle, there's my men
Fieldhands:
He want 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
Hunh!
Get ready for the big dog!
Mister:
This my house
Mister & Fieldhands:
Fix that / Work!
Broken window
'Fore the / Work!
Rain come in
You got to / Work!
Kill that rat
With this here / Work!
Rollin' pin / Humm!
Mop this floor
Pick up / Humm!
All this mess
You know that
Mister & Fieldhands:
Cleanliness
Next to
Godliness
Fieldhands:
If you think hard work
Been doggin' you before
Get ready for the big dog!
Hunh!
Mister, Celie:
Sweep this barn / Nettie go
Milk that cow / to the schoolhouse
Water from the well / Get her
Fields to plow / college degree
Brush my horse / Nettie teachin'
Feed that pig / her children
Tree to chop / to spell
Ditch to dig / Tennessee
Fetch them eggs / Won't be time
Pitch that hay / for a garden
Patch the fence
So the billy / No birds
Don't stray / gonna sing
Pull the turnips / Won't be time
Hose the greens / for my readin'
Feed the baby goats
'Til the last one weans
Fieldhands:
Get ready for the big dog!
Mister:
Work!
Fieldhands:
Hunh!
Mister:
Harpo! I done warned you about this. I'm gon' beat you clean to death. Get my belt!
Harpo:
No! Pa!
Celie:
When I lay me down to sleep
I will say my prayer
Mister:
You throw your food on the floor, you eats it off the floor, you little pig
Celie:
That God love me so deep
He will promise our souls to keep
Girl:
Daddy, can I have . . .
Mister:
You get nothin' from me, girl. And the next one of you says a word gets tied to the fence post
Celie:
Together
Mister:
Bedroom's upstairs
Celie:
I say a prayer
Fieldhands:
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! Hunh!