Sheet Music, 1910-1919
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Files
Download Full Text (812 KB)
ISBN
MUM00682, 0108
Description
Cover: photo of two males in blackface; drawing of an elderly African American woman talking to a young African American girl; Publisher: Harry von Tilzer Music Publishing Co. (New York)
Subject Headings (Library of Congress)
Songs -- United States -- 20th 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
What's the matter Honey there's a tear in your eye, Do white folks say you don't know where you go when you die? come to your mammy dear, Now don't you fear I will tell where colored children go when they leave here There's a happy land above the sky so blue And listen child what's waiting for you.
Chorus
You lay your black kinky head in a bed on a pillow of white When you sleep tight the angels watch over you ev'ry night The griddle cakes pop from the ground With sweet molasses all around Old Uncle Joe is playing tunes upon his old banjo The streets are all paved with gold I am told ev'ry bird in the skies has diamond eyes now ain't that nice so very nice Ev'ry little kinky headed girl and boy has the cutest silver pony for a toy In the place they call the Pickaninnies Paradise. You lay your black kinky head in a bed on a pillow of white When you sleep tight the angels watch over you ev'ry night The griddle cakes pop from the ground With sweet molasses all around Old Uncle Joe is playing tunes upon his old banjo The streets are all paved with gold I am told ev'ry bird in the skies has diamond eyes now ain't that nice so very nice Ev'ry little kinky headed girl and boy has the cutest silver pony for a toy In the place they call the Pickaninnies Paradise.
Second verse
Run and play my Honey by the mulberry tree. Just stay right near the window where your mammy can see now don't you feel so blue For I love you, and the white folks told me Honey, that they love you too If they speak about the skies up over head Just tell them dear what your mammy said.
(Chorus)
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