[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
From the 1905 musical production “Rufus Rastus”
words by Frank Williams
music by Ernest Hogan and Tom Lemonier
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. De debble an’ his wife, was playin’ seven up
A-playin’ for a silver half a dollar
De debble cut a Jack from de bottom ob de pack
An’ de folks in Jordan heard him holler
Ol’ Adam an’ Miss Eve was as hungry as a bear
So de debble cut a great big watermelon
Den Miss Eve she took a bite, Adam eat the rest all right
Dats why dey say the debble is a Villian
Chorus
Is everybody happy?
Is everybody glad?
Want every one a-laughin’
Don’t want anybody sad
Want to see yo’ sides a-shakin’
Laugh an’ roll roun’ on de floor
Get happy, happy, happy
Whoop ’em up an’ laugh some more
2. David was a little man, Goliath was a giant
But the giant nebber had a chance to fight
David hit him wid a brick an’ it made de giant sick
For he thought it was a stick of dynamite
Noah was a patriarch wid a menagerie
An’ he built de ark when it began to rain
P. T. Barnum bought de Show, Noah couldn’t make it go
He went home on de early morning train
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Sung here by Fred Feild: