[Warning: Derogatory racial terms. It is presented in its original form for the sake of music history.]
words and music by Kerry Mills (Frederick A. Mills), 1897
A great cakewalk song. From the book America’s Songs II: “Frederick Allen Mills was a classically trained performer and head of the violin department at the University of Michigan School of Music. When this white composer began to write “coon songs” under the name of Kerry Mills, he soon became convinced that they were insulting to black people. He set out to write songs that were syncopated but portrayed African Americans in less cartoonish ways. For “At a Georgia Camp Meeting,” he borrowed his musical theme from a Civil War song, “Our Boys Will Shine Tonight,” and added a lyric about a religious gathering in the South when he realized he had a hit on his hands.”
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. A camp meeting took place
By the colored race
Way down in Georgia
There were coons large and small
Lanky lean fat and tall
At this great coon camp-meeting
When church was out
How the “Sisters” did shout
They were so happy
But the young folks were tired
And wished to be inspired
And hired a big brass band
Chorus
When that band of darkies began to play
Pretty music so gay
Hats were then thrown away
Thought them foolish coons
Their necks would break
When they quit laughing and talking
And went to walking
For a big choc’late cake
2. The old “Sisters” raised sand
When they first heard the band
Way down in Georgia
The preacher did rare
And the deacons did stare
At the young darkies prancing
The band played so sweet
That nobody could eat
‘Twas so entrancing
So the church folks agree’d
‘Twas not a sinful deed
And joined in with the rest
Sung here by Fred Feild: