[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A 1899 popular song
Words by Walter H. Ford
Music by John W. Bratton
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. I got a worry on my mind
An’ I’m tryin’ hard to find
A someone else to do
My washin’ an’ my cookin’
Because de gal I used to know
Done give me such a low down throw
Dat I’m rubb’rin’ ’round’ de town
And I’m a lookin’
Dat gal I used to think
To me was meat and drink
An’ I lost my job for writin’ po’try too
She got so bad you couldn’t hold her
When my dream came out I told her
“I got all dat I can do
To keep my hands off you”
Chorus
I got all I can do to keep my hands off you
D’ ye hear me, Oo! oo!
Keep your pusson far away
And digest well what I say
Don’t come near me, Oo oo
You is good for to see
But you won’t do for me
Missus Coon I can see
Dat we never’ll agree
Well I got all dat I can do
To keep my hands off you
2. When I was courtin’ her at first
I controlled my daily thirst
So as to save my nickels up to buy her “trusso”
But when she found me easy game
Den she desired to wear my name
And before my trance expired
Why she does so
I used to make de bed
Do anything she said
While she sat around and told me what to do
But when at last I took a tumble
Den I told her when she’d grumble
“I got all dat I can do
To keep my hands off you”
Sung here by Fred Feild: