[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
a 1916 popular song
words and music by Chris Smith and Charles R. McCarron
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. Bill Johnson said one day to his Eliza May
“We’ve been to nearly every place in Town
If you suggest to me some other novelty
We both will go and do the thing up brown”
His sweetie said, “My dear, there is a place I hear
I got it straight from Mose who brings the clothes
It’s Honky Tonky Town, down where the gals are brown
There’s where music grows
Chorus
Come honey, let’s go down to Honky Tonky Town
It’s underneath the ground where all the fun is found
There’ll be singing waiters, singing syncopators
Dancing to Piano played by Mister Brown
He plays Piano queer, he only plays by ear
You want to stay a year, the music that you hear
Would even start a Monkey dancing with a Donkey
Down in Honky Tonky Town
2. That Hula Hula dance don’t even stand a chance
You ought to see those little dusky queens
They do the “Bombashay,” they do it in a way
You really think you’re back in New Orleans
It’s got to be a fad with every gal and lad
To go to Honky Tonky Town at night
Each girlie cries to go, and when she spies her beau
She yells all her might
Sung here by Fred Feild: