[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
(Cotton Was a Little Dixie Rose)
A pickaninny fox trot ballad from 1920
Words by George A. Little
Music by Fred Rose
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Cotton fields remind me
Of a story I once heard
And now as I recall it
I remember every word
'Bout a tiny darkey
From the land where cotton grows
I bet 'way up in heaven
Little Cotton is a rose
Refrain:
Cotton, folks all hugged and kissed him
Cotton, everybody missed him
Tho' his face was dark as night
His little heart was white
Everyone would tease him
Still it seemed to please him
Cotton, Mammy used to rock him
At the evening's close
Tho' he's gone he's not forgotten
Everyone remembers Cotton
Cotton was a little Dixie rose
2. Mammy now is dreaming
Of the days that used to be
When her sweet little Cotton
Loved to climb upon her knee
And she'd croon a melody
A tale 'bout "Ole Black Joe"
But now when evening time comes 'round
She sings with love aglow