[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1928
Words by Andy Razaf
Music by J. C. Johnson
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Have you ever stood beneath a Dixie sky,
Seen those steamboats
With their cargoes loaded high;
Watched a happy husky dusky having fun,
Toiling daily in the balzing sun.
Chorus
He’s just a Stevedore,
Down on that Swanee shore,
Working and singing a song;
His dusky brow is wet,
He doesn’t mind the sweat,
A-scuffalin’ all the day long;
See his ragtime scuffalin’ gait.
Happy ’cause he’s handling freight,
The levee’s heaven for
The Dusky Stevedore
Working and singing a song
Patter
Chops fo’ mammy, shoes fo’ Sammy
Move dem bales away
Broke de stitches, needs new britches
Move dem bales away
Lan’lord says he’s comin’ back
Wants de rent or wants his shack
Dat ain’t funny, I needs money
Move den bales away
- On the levee, ev’ry day’s a perfect day,
Nature taught him how to laugh his cares away.
Just a grown up child who’s happy all the while,
Even when he’s weary he can smile.
Chorus
He’s just a Stevedore.
Down on that Swanee shore,
Working and singing a song;
It’s just those songs he sings.
That make his cares take wings,
They help ease the hours along.
Tho’ his life’s one rocky road,
He croons tunes that lighten his load,
Why can’t we all be more
Like that old Stevedore,
Working and singing a song