[WARNING: racial stereotypes. Original presented as part of music history.]
a 1897 popular song
words and music by Williams & Walker
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The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. Miss Simpson had always been considered
De finest gal in town.
She was de envy of all de coons
Dat lived for miles around,
Last week Bill Johnson took her out
To see de minstrels at de hall;
He bought de seats in de gallery.
And she didn’t like that at all.
Chorus
She said, “I don’t like no cheap man
Dat spends his money on de ‘stalment plan
Dat’s de reason I always carry with me
‘Nuf money for what I want.
I got a sweet disposition as any one,
But’ sake alive,’ I hate to be done
In front of de people dat’s sitting here, too
You’s a cheap man, and you won’t do!”
2. Miss Simpson was kind o’ partial
To ice cream and lemonade.
So when Ephraim asked her to have some.
“Wid pleasure, sir!” she said.
She ate two dishes of the cream, she says to him,
“Ain’t you gwine to hab none?”
He says, “I’m waiting for to see if I can stand the blow;
If I kin, den I’ll hab some.”
3. Last week, at a festival, she met Sam Long-
Folks said he had lots of dough.
“Can I ‘scort you down to de table,” said he.
“Twould be a pleasure, sho!”
At the table Sam grabbed up the bill o’ fare-
She said, “I’ll take a piece o’ chicken wid you!”
He said, “I am sorry, but I’m ‘shy’ to-night,
Won’t a nice ham sandwich do?”
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Sung here by Fred Feild: