[WARNING: racial stereotypes. No hatred is intended. It is presented in its original form for the sake of musical history.]
an 1898 popular song
words and music by Lawrence Deas and Jack “the Bear” Wilson
————————————————
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. White folks all say, and think they’re right
That all coons, to them, they look alike
I once done had a gal named Lucy Jane
Who also thought that all coons was the same
‘Cause I never worked but always loafed about
So one day she got mad and put me out
Now a yaller coon sits at my table
Keeps eating up everything
And when I ask her for to take me back
To me she’ll begin to sing
Chorus
Well, to tell the truth
I just naturally loves that yaller man
And I ‘tends to buy him all the cigarettes
And chewing gum dat I can
I’m goin’ to get him some cork
And put him on the stage as a minstrel man
‘Cause I just natur’ly loves dat yaller man
2. Went to a colored ball last night
I wanted to see dem darkies fight
A yaller coon that they called “Handsome Abe”
He carv’d a coon for trifling with his babe
They arrested him and took him off to jail
And brought him to the judge, a looking pale
His gal stood as his lawyer
And pleaded for his case
She says, “Your honor, don’t you send him to jail
But let me take his place”
Chorus
For to tell the truth
I just naturally loves that yaller man
And I ‘tends to keep him from a-doing
All the hard work dat I can
I’m goin’ to see if the President won’t
Put him into Congress as an alderman
‘Cause I just natur’ly loves dat yaller man
3. Next day Joe and his gal did stroll
Near a railroad track and got his foot in a hole
He tried, in vain, but could not get it out
Alas! the train was coming with a pout
When an idea struck his gal and she ran back
And started to tear up the railroad track
Tho’ she saved that yaller man’s life
All passengers she did kill
And told the judge on the ‘stallment plan
She’d pay their fun’ral bill
Chorus
Judge, I done it ’cause
I just naturally loves that yaller man
It might a’ spoiled his ‘plexion
If over him a train of cars like that ran
I’m goin’ to buy him some bran’ new hose
And make him a fireman, as soon as I can
‘Cause I just natur’ly loves dat yaller man
———————————————-
Sung here by Fred Feild: