[WARNING: contains the N-word. Presented in its original form for the sake of music history.]
That tantalizing ragtime song of 1910
words and music by Harry Augustus Fischler
Based on the rag by the same composer. The song is a good advertisement for the instrumental. I had to slow it down to 75 bpm to sing the words.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. Coons were gathered in their meetin’ house one night
Parson Jones about to preach with all his might
Minstrel band that came to town, on that very day
Just o’er the way, started to play
Music they were playin’ was a Ragtime tune
Got that congregation goin’ mighty soon
Someone shouted, “Parson, I done move we adjo’n
Until dat band gets through”
Parson yells back, “You coons is in a trance
Dis is no place to dance”, then he began to prance
“But I am willin’, Chilun’, to take a chance
On dat entrancin’ melody
Chorus:
Oh! love up yo’ honey she’s a prize
Look up into yo’ baby’s eyes
Keep on a-prancin’ to that Ragged refrain
Go on an squeeze yo’ honey, do it again
(I tell yo’) that tune was made to tantalize
I know, it took yo’ by surprize
Don’t try to stop yo’ twitchin’
Keep on, dat tune’s bewitchin’
That teasin’ Chili Sauce Rag
2. When that band stopped playin’
You could hear them coons
Screamin’ and a-yellin’ like a lot of loons
Never heard no music like that Ragtime before
They cried for more, crazy for sure
Miss Lucinda Johnson had a fit, they say
When the parson done his ragtime bomba shay
Deacon Brown went in a trance, then fainted, away
When parson Jones cried out
“Get yo’ partners, dare is dat tune again
Hark to dat Rag refrain, I sure will go insane
But yo’ know, I know, Niggahs I ain’t to blame
Jus’ lis’en to dat melody”
Sung here by Fred Feild: