[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
from the 1905 musical “Moonshine”
words by George Vere Hobart and Edwin Milton Boyle
music by Silvio Hein
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. De sunflower ain’t de daisy
And de melon ain’t de rose
Why is dey all so crazy
To be sumfin else dat grows
Jess stick to de place you’re planted
And do de bess you knows
Be de sunflower or de daisy
De melon or de rose
Refrain
Don’t be what you ain’t, jess yo’ be what yo’ is
If you am not what you are, den you is not what you is
If you’re just a little tadpole, don’t you try to be a frog
If you are de tail don’t try to wag the dog
Pass de plate if you can’t exhort and preach
If you’re jess a little pebble don’t you try to be the beach
When a man is what he isn’t, den he isn’t what he is
And as sure as I’m a-talkin’ he’s a gwine to get his
2. De song-thrush ain’t de robin
And de catbird ain’t de Jay
Why is dey all a-throbbin’
To outdo each other’s lay
Dess sing de song God gave you
And let yo’ heart be gay
Be de song-thrush or de Robin
De catbird or de Jay
Sung here by Fred Feild: