[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
From “Jumping Jupiter”, 1910
Words by Harold R. Atteridge
Music by Phil Schwartz
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- ‘Way down South in New Orleans the big moon’s bright
Coons are singing on the levee every night
Rastus Johnson Black is there and he’s some gay
With his honey gal he does the bombashay
Hear that banjo goin’, that’s some music, man
Lordy! see those Sunday clothes of Dixie Dan
Come on, Baby Doll, we’ll do that chicken drag
And we’ll do that dance they call the Possum rag
Chorus
Come on! come along, baby
Oh! Oh! you choc’late lady
Roll those great big eyes at me
Hear that music swellin’
Sweet as watermelon
Doggone, I feel so funny
Like I was ready money
Oh, you honey blossom
Love you more than possum
Come and do that Possum Rag
- Memphis Sam is prancing with his Choc’late drop
Dance that Johnson Pas-ma-la and don’t you stop
Here’s Miss Jackson coming, now say, “How-do, Lize
Honey, you’re some sassy, when you roll them eyes”
Sing those songs they used to sing before the war
Hurry ‘long, you chilun, shake your feet some more
You can climb to glory with that Dixie strain
But that Possum Rag just makes you most insane