[WARNING: This song contains the N-word. No hatred is intended. It is presented in its original form for the sake of music history.]
a 1866 popular song
words: anonymous
music by J. Young
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
1. Oh my name is Darkey Sam
And I’se a blackeyed contraband
Down on de Chickahominee I was born
But old massa run away
When de Linkum sogers play
So, I started for de Norf in de morn
I soon met wid a man
And he took me by de hand
And he brought me to de Bobolition meetin’
Dar de brudders made a speech
And de sisters ’gan to preach
Dey said dat my complexion was light
And de world day would teach
What a point dey could reach
And dey’d show dat dey could wash de nigger white
Chorus
I soon met wid a man
And he took me by de hand
And he brought me to de Bobolition meetin’
Dar de brudders made a speach
And de sisters ’gan to preach
Dey said dey could wash de nigger white
2. Dey got me very soon
And dey put me in a room
Dis nigger couldn’t tell what dey was after
Dey took off all my clothes
And den what does you suppose
Dey put me in a tub of boilin’ water
And den dey got around
And some scrubbin’brushes found
And said dey’d wash me whiter dan paper
Oh! dey got me in a tub
And dey all began to rub
I tell you it was a pretty sight
For, some put on de soap
And de oders dey did scrub
But dey found dey couldn’t wash de nigger white
3. De next thing dey done
For to make de color run
Dey began to rub me wid sand paper
Oh! dey nearly killed me dead
But dey only made me red
I tell you it was an awful caper
Den dey whitewashed me so slick
But de lime it wouldn’t stick
I, golly! I was just as black as ever
Den dey got a lot of hay
And dey rubbed and scrubbed away
Oh! dey kept at it all dat night
But den dey found, next day
Dat de job it wouldn’t pay
’Kase dey neber could wash de nigger white
4. When I found dat dey was tired
Says I, “Gemmen, list to me”
And you will find dat I am a-right, man
De nigger will be nigger
Till de day of Jubilee
For, he nebber was intended for a white man
Den just skedaddle home
Leave de colored man alone
For, you’re only makin trouble in de nation
You may fight, and you may muss
You may make a heap of fuss
But you nebber will make tings right
Until you all agree
For to let de nigger be
‘Kase you’ll neber, neber, neber wash him white
Sung here by Fred Feild: