Alabama Ball

[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]

A popular song from 1918
Words by Wm. Hallen Falls
Music by Al. W. Beatty


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. Get your beau and let’s go down
    To that Alabama town
    Get ready for some dancin’
    Syncopated prancin’
    Let your feet go wild, Baby child
    Look-a-here, look-a-here
    Come and love me, too
    Just keep a wooin’
    Keep swayin’ to the left and right
    O honey don’t your feet feel light
    I know your knees are saggin’
    But keep on a raggin’
    We can’t stop to rest, Honey mine
    Ain’t it fine, keep in line, I like it best

Chorus
Take me to that Alabama Ball
Come on ma honey
Can’t you hear that music’s sooth in call
I’ve got the money
Get your feet a movin’ to that music grand
Classiest of symphonies that’s in the land
Here the banjo strum, listen to that drum
Turkey trottin’ isn’t it
Glidin’, slidin’, dancin’ round the floor
It sure is rippin’
Soon you’ll ask the leaderman for more
To keep you dippin’
Want to keep a-dancin’ till the roosters crow
Want to teach the folks to do the heel and toe
Dancin’ at that Alabama ball

  1. See the pickaninnies run
    Goin’ to be there for the fun
    And soon you’ll hear them yellin’
    Pass the watermelon
    Each one gets a slice off the ice
    Ain’t it nice, pass it twice
    Just like Paradise, just keep a-passin’
    We’ll never think of goin’ home
    Till Jasper plays upon his comb
    And there will be more hoppin’
    ‘Till their corns start poppin’
    See them dance around side by side
    See them glide, trombones slide
    They’re homeward bound