[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
Darktown was out at dat barbecue, 1904
Words and music by Will Marion Cook
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Down at de barbecue las’ Chuesday night
Darktown was out. Oh! Lord ’twas a sight!
Ev’ryone rode up in somethin’ on wheels
Quite a few coons had automobiles
Mandy was dere in huh new gingham dress
Wid Dan by huh side jes’ prancin’ a mess
Ole Deacon Johnson an’ Aunt Sallie too
Forgot about church at dat barbecue
Dat pig was sho’ a treat
My, how dem coons did eat
Dem pigtails an’ pig’s feet, so sweet
Chorus
You know dat Darktown was out at dat barbecue
Dey eat, as ef’ twas deir las’ time to
Dey sang kase dey had no work to do
Darktown was out at dat barbecue
You know dat cue
- Soon as de eatin’ an’ drinkin’ was through
De dance began at dat barbecue
Such scand’lous wingin’ aint nobody seen
Sho’ twas a sight too watch Tildy Green
She pranced an’ she danced till huh face was red
An’ when she two-steped los’ dat wig off huh head
Cose razor Mose tried to start up a fuss
But Bill cut him down dat ended de muss