Sheet Music, 1834-1899
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ISBN
MUM00682, 0004
Description
Cover: caricature drawings of various African Americans; a description reads A Darkey Misunderstanding; Publisher: M. Witmark and Sons (London)
Subject Headings (Library of Congress)
Songs -- United States -- 19th Century; Popular Music -- United States
Relational Format
music score
Original Format
scores
Original Collection
Sheldon Harris Collection (MUM00682), Archives and Special Collections, University of Mississippi Libraries
Finding Aid
Lyrics
Lyrics:
First verse
Talk about a coon a having trouble, think I have enough of ma own, Its all about ma Lucy Janey Stubbles, and shee has caused my heart to mourn, Thar's another coon barber from Virginia, In soci'ty he's the leader of the day, And now ma honey gal is gwine to quit me, Yes shes gona nad drove this coon away, She'd no excuse, to turn me loose, I've been abused, I'm all confused, Cause these words she did say.
Chorus
All coons look a like to me, I've got another beau, you see, And he's just as good to me as you, nig! ever to be, He spends his money free, I know we cant agree, So I don't like you no how, All coons look alike to me, me.
Second verse
Never said a word to hurt her feelings, always bou't her presents by the score, And now my brain with sorrow am a reeling, Cause she won't accept them any more, If I treated her wrong she may have loved me, Like all the rets she's gone and let me down, If I'm lucky I'm a gwinw to catch my policy, And win my sweet thing way from town, For I'm worried, Yes, I'm desp'rate, I've been Jonahed, And I'll get dang'rous, If these words she says to me. (Chorus)
Content Disclaimer
The derogatory terms, images, and ideas that appear in some of this sheet music are not condoned by the University of Mississippi. They do represent the attitudes of a number of Americans at the times the songs were published. As such, it is hoped that the sheet music in this collection can aid students of music, history, and other disciplines to better understand popular American music and racial stereotypes from the 19th- and early 20th-centuries.