Paul Laurence Dunbar

Keep A-Pluggin' Away

I've a humble little motto

That is homely, though it's true,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.

It's a thing when I've an object

That I always try to do,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.

When you've rising storms to quell,

When opposing waters swell,

It will never fail to tell,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.


If the hills are high before

And the paths are hard to climb,

Keep a-pluggin' away.

And remember that successes

Come to him who bides his time,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.

From the greatest to the least,

None are from the rule released.

Be thou toiler, poet, priest,

Keep a-pluggin' away.


Delve away beneath the surface,

There is treasure farther down,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.

Let the rain come down in torrents,

Let the threat'ning heavens frown,

Keep a-pluggin' away.

When the clouds have rolled away,

There will come a brighter day

All your labor to repay,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.


There'll be lots of sneers to swallow,

There'll be lots of pain to bear,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.

If you've got your eye on heaven,

Some bright day you'll wake up there,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.

Perseverance still is king;

Time its sure reward will bring;

Work and wait unwearying,—

Keep a-pluggin' away.