[This song contains antiquated racial language. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A WWI song from 1918.
Words and music by Creamer and Layton.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Alexander Cooper was a colored trooper
With his regiment he marched away
Bands were gaily playing
Colored folks were swaying
On Emancipation Day
From the crowd, Dinah Lee so proud
Hollored to her sweetie good and loud
Chorus
Goodbye Alexander, goodbye honey boy
Dressed up in that uniform
You fills my heart with joy
You ain’t born for mopin’
Boy, you sure can laugh
But you left that window open
And they got you in the draft
Alexander, I’ll save my loving for you
I’ll be waiting like Poor Butterfly
So get busy with that gun
And don’t come back here till you’ve won
Alexander goodbye
- Brave old Alexander
He could understand her
He knew Dinah Lee was really blue
Yet he kept on smiling
While his troop went filing
Proudly down the avenue
On the pier, everyone could hear
Dinah callling to her sweetie dear
Chorus
Goodbye Alexander, goodbye honey boy
Dressed up in that uniform
You fills my heart with joy
You ain’t born for mopin’
Boy, you sure can laugh
But you left that window open
And they got you in the draft
Alexander, I’ll save my loving for you
I’ll be waiting like Poor Butterfly
If you want to see me grin
Bring me a pig-foot from Berlin
Alexander goodbye