[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1914
Words by Andrew K. Allison
Music by Verna Wilkens
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Old Jasper Johnson, a Kentucky colored moke
Said, “I’m goin’ to give a picnic to the colored folk
It’s just fifty years ago we were set free
So, I’m goin’ to celebrate it with an old time Jamboree”
He invited all the colored girls and boys
Had a band of colored mokes. Some noise
Chorus
Down at Jasper Johnson’s Jamboree
Everybody’s happy, happy as can be
All the folks have just arrived from Baltimore
On train Number Four, at eleven forty-four
None of those darkies do the buck and wing
They do the latest, up-to-datest Tango swing
There’s Ebenezer with Anna Lize
Just watch that baby roll her eyes
Hear those little pickaninies holler with glee
Down at Jasper Johnson’s Jamboree
- Hear that band playing all the latest ragtime tunes
See that March to dinner by a lot of dusky coons
Jasper Johnson’s leading them, Oh! he looks fine
In the old high hat the Marster gave him back in Sixty-nine
“Hip, Hoo-ray for old man Johnson,” hear them cry
As those darkies see that possum pie