[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1899
Words and music by George Totten Smith
Music by Robert A. Keiser
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- A coon once went to serenade his lady
He sang her all the love songs dat he knew
He stood out in de dusky darkness shady
Till he was almos drownded wid de dew
But still he sang, “Thine eyes so blue and tender”
“I love but thee” and “In the gloaming,” too
And “Annie Laurie” he was goin’ to render
When he heard a voice above say, “Dat’ll do”
“Go run along” “Wid dat ole song”
“Dat melody” “Queers you wid me”
You see “Dat eb’ry thing is Ragtime now”
Chorus
Don’t yo’ sing er play another thing
But “All coons look alike t’ me”
Ragtime tune dey fill de coons wid feelin’s ob glee
Telephone ma baby, Ma Honolulu Lady we will allow
‘Cause ebrything is Ragtime now
- At last de gal she said she’d wed dis nigger
De weddin’ was t’ be er swell affair
An at de church de folks began t’ figger
On jes’ de time de couple would be dere
De organ den it started up a playin’
The weddin’ march of ole Mendelssohn
De crowd began dere razors den displayin’
Dey shouted out “Dis weddin’ can’t go on”
“Cut out dat tune” “Dat isn’t coon”
“Dat time donn go” “It’s to blame slow”
You know “Dat eb’ry thing is Ragtime now” - De bridegroom he came down de aisle a’ prancin’
Sez he, “I tole de man t’ play dat tune
Den forty coons was on his carcass dancin’
Dere’d been as many more if dere was room
De crowd was disappointed ’bout the weddin’
For de bridegroom some how’r other he was dead
So de coon who all de srappin’ was a headin’
Sez, “Now we’ll hab er funeral instead”
“But eb’ry thing” “Yo’ play an’ sing”
“Must be in rag,” “An’ doan’ yo’ drag”
For eb’rything is Ragtime now”