[WARNING: contains the N-word. Original presented as a part of music history.]
an African warning, 1897
words and music by Lew Sully
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. There is a coon that-a you all-a know
Whose everlasting looking for a row
And though he is the bully of the town
I think that I can do him any how
He tried to kiss my gal the other day
But when he saw me coming quickly fled
I met that coon the other night
And this is what I said
Chorus
Hesitate, Mister Nigger, hesitate
They way you carry on will never do
Don’t hang around my baby any more
‘Cause I doesn’t ever interfere with you
So if you think you’ll steal my lady love
My fighting powers don’t you underate
Just-a take this-a tip, I’m givin’ you now
Hesitate, Mister Nigger, hesitate
2. Down at-a Johnson’s rollin’ dem-a dice
Everybody bettin’ mighty high
He tried to do some cheatin’ once or twice
I caught him for I had my eagle eye
His point was “Jo” for me an easy throw
He finds it rather difficult instead
I see him get his crooked bones
So quietly I said
Chorus
Hesitate, Mister Nigger, hesitate
I aint a-goin to tell you more than twice
Now make your “Jo” we’ve faded all your dough
And see you doesn’t use your loaded dice
You’ve got the name for shooting crooked game
You’re known to ev’ry nigger in the State
Before you roll dem spotted bones
Hesitate, Mister Nigger, hesitate
3. Old Mister Jackson’s got a melon patch
An acre lot that’s full of nigger fruit
But not a coon would try to steal-a one
For Jackson is a terror on the shoot
This nigger bet a melon he would get
So waited till the owner was in bed
He’d scarcely got inside the gate
When Mister Jackson said
Chorus
Hesitate, Mister Nigger, hesitate
Don’t lay your hands upon forbidden fruit
Now drop the sack you’ve got upon your back
And skedaddle in a hurry or I’ll shoot
And if you think you’ll ever try again
To rob me of my melons let me state
Some good advice will come in nice
Hesitate, Mister Nigger, hesitate
Sung here by Fred Feild: