[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
From Hoyt’s “A Stranger In New York”, 1898.
Words and music by Harry Rogers.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Now I’m a colored gentleman
As you can plainly see
Though some folks call me nigger
Yes! but that don’t bother me
I know I’m not a white man
Tho’ I hope to change some day
And when the white folks shout
Who is dat coon, now dis is what I say
Chorus
My name’s Pete Johnson
I can do a coon cake walk
My name’s Pete Johnson
And my education talks
My style just shows you
That I don’t go around with gawks
For I’m no loon, but a dead fly coon
And my name’s Pete Johnson
2. Now when I’m walking on Broadway
In the day time or the night
And the wenches they catch sight of me
Their color all turns white
And when I do approach them
In that coon-like cake walk style
Then they shout out, “Nigger, what’s your name”
Then I shout with a smile
3. You’ve heard of niggers done turn white
But none you never saw
But I’m the nig’ that lick’d
That Spaniard on the upper floor
I couldn’t stand to see his nationality about
So I hit him and I turned him white
And then commenced to shout