There are more lyrics at the beginning of the song. Something like "White folks said I serve almighty man, Play it smart and not being clever." But it's a bit difficult to pick out exactly was he's saying afterward. I'm pretty sure this song is about how African American's who were kept as slaves will eventually topple the white man through unity, i.e. "If you are a big tree, we are the small axe, sharpened to cut you down...". He also refers to some words of wisdom that his master gave him including "whosoever digith a pit, shall fall in it" implying that slave owners have been digging a pit and are destined to be punished for their actions.
There are more lyrics at the beginning of the song. Something like "White folks said I serve almighty man, Play it smart and not being clever." But it's a bit difficult to pick out exactly was he's saying afterward. I'm pretty sure this song is about how African American's who were kept as slaves will eventually topple the white man through unity, i.e. "If you are a big tree, we are the small axe, sharpened to cut you down...". He also refers to some words of wisdom that his master gave him including "whosoever digith a pit, shall fall in it" implying that slave owners have been digging a pit and are destined to be punished for their actions.