[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1898.
Words and music by Deas & Wilson.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. It was ‘way down home in South Caroline
Jasper Smith kept a farm so fine
To him all the people had given great praise
For all the great prize chickens that he did raise
‘Bout a mile from this farm liv’d a desp’rate crook
Who kept an evil eye on Jasper’s chicken coop
One night when ev’rything was still
He stole dem fowls away
Next day Jasper went to him
And in a mournful voice did say
Chorus
“All I wants is ma chickens
My Shanghai chickens
Ma feathered pickens
I shan’t leave here widout my chickens
I’ll bet six bits I’ll kill a coon
If I don’t get ma chickens back”
2. The coons gave a picnic down at Possum Beach
‘Fessor Kidney and his wife came the games to teach
The big event of the day was a chicken race
Which ‘Fessor won in a walk, and without a pace
Two fine Spring hens was the prize that he got
To the boat he quickly went and for home he did start
Four miles from home the boat went down
His wife sank with a groan
In a half drown’d state they picked him up
And he began to moan
Chorus
“All I wants is ma chickens
Dem lubly chickens
Ma feathered pickens!
Now don’t mind ma wife, but save my chickens!
You better send a diver down
To see if he can get ma chickens back!”
3. Razor Jake, we all know, had a very bad name
Stealing chickens was his highest aim
One day he took sick, so the doctor they did fetch
He had consumption in his feet
So he must pass in with his checks.
Jake says “If I’ve got to go
Please grant my last request
When I go I wants to take with me the thing I love best
Just cook me some nice chicken for to eat on the way.”
When the time came round to breathe his last
These words I heard him say
Chorus
“All I wants is ma chickens
My nice roast chickens
Wid gravey drippins!
I shant leave this earth widout my chickens
I don’t mind a-dying ev’ry day
If I can take ma chickens wid me!”