[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial language. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A comic song for the minstrel stage, 1850
words, music, and arrangement by Stephen C. Foster
Young Stephen Foster loved the minstrel shows. He was a teenager in the Pittsburg area when they started. He and his friends would ape and clown like they were minstrel actors. That is how he wrote Oh Susanna and many others like this one.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. Way down on de old plantation dah’s where I was born
I used to beat de whole creation hoein in de corn
Oh! den I work and den I sing so happy all de day
Till Angelina Baker came and stole my heart away
Chorus
Angelina Baker! Angelina Baker’s gone
She left me here to weep a tear and beat on de old jawbone
Angelina Baker! Angelina Baker’s gone
She left me here to weep a tear and beat on de old jawbone
2. I’ve seen my Angelina in de spring-time and de fall
I’ve seen her in de corn-field and I’ve seen her at de ball
And ebry time I met her she was smiling like de sun
But now I’m left to weep a tear cayse Angelina’s gone
3. Angelina am so tall she nebber sees de ground
She hab to take a wellumscope to look down on de town
Angelina likes de boys as far as she can see dem
She used to run old Massa round to ax him for to free dem
4. Early in de morning ob a lubly summer day
I ax for Angelina and dey say “she’s gone away”
I don’t know wha to find her cayse I don’t know wha she’s gone
She left me here to weep a tear and beat on de old jawbone
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Sung here by Fred Feild: