[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1897
Words and music by Karl St. Clair
The sheet music:
Lyrics
1. De coons gave a ball de other night
De wenches dat attended
Dey were dressed way out of sight
Every nigger had on his very best
Wuz a putting' on a lot of lugs and tryin' to do de rest
Sports and gamblers, made a great big bluff
Crooked crap shooters dat were lookin' for de stuff
Dere wuz many a funny sight to see
Every nigger dat was present had a lady, but me
Chorus:
Every nigger had a lady, but me
Every nigger had a lady, but me
I stood here a glancin' while de others were a dancin'
And day all seemed just as happy as could be
Every nigger had a lady, but me
Every nigger had a lady, but me
Not a word to me day spoke
And my heart it nearly broke
Every nigger had a lady, but me
2. Dat night I'll always remember well
I had my eyes located on a ginger colored belle
I wuz captured, completely by her charms
I could feel myself a waltzin'
With dat "sweet thing" in my arms
Jes' den someone shouted through de hall
"Everybody grab a gal and promenade all"
For dat lady den I grabbed right away
But I nebber knew I missed her
'Till de band began to play
3. Along 'bout twelve, a great big coon
Got up, and said dat supper would be ready very soon
Every couple, began to fall in line
'Cause de niggers got a straight tip
Dat de grub was mighty fine
Coons and wenches, laughin' nebber ceased
'Till de big procession started down to have de feast
I wuz ready, but strange it seemed to be
Every nigger went to supper with a lady, but me
Final chorus:
Every nigger went to supper, but me
Every nigger went to supper, but me
I stood here a smilin' 'till my blood began a bilin'
Until I got jes as mad as I could be
Every nigger was a laughin' at me
'Cause every nigger had a lady, but me
But when I began to shoot
All de coons began to scoot
Den nobody had a lady, but me