[WARNING: racial stereotypes that offend some people. Original presented as part of music history.]
a 1848 minstrel song
words and music by the Ethiopian Serenaders
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
1. Oh what enchanting pleasure
On de light Bombastic toe
To dance de Polka measure
Or thro’ de Waltz to go
Specially wid de wenus
Dat holds your heart in thrall
What sweet words pass between us
At de color’d Fancy Ball
Now den Gemblemen please to be quiet
De Ball am gwarn to begin
If you dair make a mus or a riot
’Twill cost you a kick on de shin
Now de music sweetly sound
Dark eyes now are glancing
Chasses croises prombernade
Oh de joys ob dancing
Now ’tis the time to whisper soft tings
Sigh as if gwain to expire
Talk ob dat little blind boy dats got wings
Den swear dat your heart am on fire
Oh what enchanting pleasure
On de light Bombastie toe
To dance de Polka measure
Or thro’ de Waltz to go
2. Observe dat lubly Juno
Wid de luxurant head ob wool
She beats all de gals dat you know
I guess above a jug full
Jus look how she toe and heel it
And she ballensays to de crowd
And dat color’d gent seems to feel it
For no gobbler was ever so proud
See he offers a glass ob ice cream
Wid a real silver spoon jus stuck in it
She takes it but surely I dream
For by golly ’tis gone in a minute
See dat Nig in de blue satin vest
Wid his heel sticking out a feet sirs
Cutting such capers and doing his best
To charm eb’ry gal dat he meet sirs
Sich a darky as dat has no right at de ball
Tell him to quit and be off
He had two years in Singsing and came out last fall
For picking up tings on de warf
And now he takes his pleasure
On his light bambastic toe
As dance de polka measure
Or thro’ de Waltz he go
Sung here by Fred Feild: