[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1904
Words by Ernest Hogan
Music by Jas. T. Brymn
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Bill Williams down on easy street
Is a coon that’s hard to beat
For laz’ness he’s the thirty third degree
To Jackson’s boarding house he went
And registered without a cent
And stayed for six months on “oh promise me”
But Jackson he got sore
Tacked this note on Bill’s door
Chorus
D-i-s! P-o-s! Z-e-s!
Dispossess’d, you got to move
Not a cent, for your rent have you spent
Since you been here, I can prove
Now just prepare yourself to go
And face that chilly wind and show
D-i-s! P-o-s! Z-e-s!
Dispossess’d means move
- Bill saw the sign tacked on his door
Says, “My, I’m gettin’ poplar “sho”
I know this letter’s from Miss Mandy Greene
But this big word I can’t make out
It’s something good to eat no doubt
I’ll go and ask Miss Mandy what it means”
But Mandy looked confused
She read to Bill the news