[Disclaimer: Racial terms and images were used as theater entertainment in days gone by. The Sheet Music Singer does not condone discrimination or hatred for anybody. This song is presented in its original form as part of music history.]
a popular song from 1904
words by Andrew B. Sterling
music by Harry Von Tilzer
The name Alexander was thought to be sophisticated and seemed out of place in vaudeville and minstrel show acts. For this reason it seemed funny to the audience. Other songs used the name, too: Alexander and His Clarinet (1910) and Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1911).
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. Look here, Alexander, I was only fooling
When I said another coon my heart was ruling
All the day I think of no one else but you
Honest, Alexander, won’t you please believe me?
It would break my heart in two, if you should leave me
Won’t you take me back, babe, and I’ll always be true
Never let another man make eyes at me
I’ll be just as sweet as any gal can be
You can be the “Boss”, I’ll let you have your way
Alexander, won’t you let me stay?
Chorus
Can’t you see the rain and hail am fastly falling, Alexander
Don’t you hear your lady love a-softly calling, Alexander
Take me to your heart again and call me honey
All I want is lovin’, I don’t want your money
Alexander, tell me don’t you love your baby no more?
2. Look here, Alexander, say that you remember
You ain’t done a stroke of work since last December
Who went out a-washin’, worked all day for you
Listen, Alexander, you were keepin’ cases
While I took in scrubbin’, you just played the races
Say, if that ain’t love, babe, no gal ever loved true
I don’t want to talk about the things I’ve done
I just want to say that you’re ma only one
I’ll put up a washin’ sign outside the door
Alexander, take me back once more
sung here by Fred Feild: