[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
From the burlesque “Hoity-Toity”, 1901.
Words by Edgar Smith.
Music by John Stromberg.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. T’was a dream ob delight las’ Saturday night
At Abram Lincoln Hall
When de cullud elite was shakin’ dere feet
At de Pullman porters ball
Dey was not out fo’ cash
An’ no common trash could mingle
For love or cush
Yer had to be de fust ob de upper crust
To mingle wid dat push
Refrain
Oh! dem kings ob de railroad downed ’em all
An’ dat Newport soci’ty’s got to crawl
Ev’ry coon worth a million
In de ragtime contillion
At de Pullman porters ball
2. All de walls ob de room was gaily festooned
Wid watermelon vine
Dey polished de flo’ for a week or mo’
Wid de fines’ bacon rin’
Dere was all kin’s o’ grub an’ wine by de tub
An’ music by Skidmores band
An’ ev’ry dusky belle had a boquet to smell
In her white lily hand