A 1900 popular song.
Words by Bob Cole and J. W. Johnson.
Music by Rosamond Johnson.
The sheet music:
I’ve Got Troubles of My Own SHEET MUSIC
Lyrics
1. Since I been a deacon in de Babtist church
I’m bothered ‘most to death
De darkies come around me wid der hard-luck tales
And talks me out o’ breath
Keeps myself secluded, but it ain’t no use
Dey’s bound to find me, sho’
F’om early maw’in’ to late at eb’nin’
Some hard-luck Ethiopian’s at my do’
Jes’ dis mawnin’, as day was dawnin’
Here comes old Hezekiah Brown
Says his quaintences and relationces
Had all throwed him down
Out o’l money, done lost his job
He had two months house-rent for to pay
He requested dat I assist him
But to Mister Brown I had to say
Chorus
I’ve got troubles of my own
Go ‘way, leave a me alone
My friend can’t you see
Dat I’m jess busy as I can be?
His tale might a been a true
His rent might a been a due
But my rent was due, too
I’ve got troubles of my own
2. Seems to me dat ev’ry darkey in dis town
Must bring his griefs to me
As long as dey live easy and der paths run smooth
Dey shuns my ‘ciety
Bein’ a convenience for dese dead-broke coons
Will put me on de shelf
I’m gwin’ ter cultivate other ‘sociates
So I can borrow, now and then, myself
Jes’ dis ev’nin’, as I was leavin’
A crowd of hungry-looking Japs
Who should ‘proach me, but brother Ephraham
Just through shootin’ craps
Lost his wages, and scared to go home
Because he knew his wife would fuss
He requested dat I assist him
But I spoke to Ephraham a thus
Chorus
I’ve got troubles of my own
Go ‘way, leave a me alone
My friend can’t you see
Dat I’m jess busy as I can be?
His tale might a been a true
But what could a I a do?
I’m scared to go home, too
I’ve got troubles of my own
3. Dis here takin’ me for a free-lan-tho-fist
Is cert’ny got to stop
It seems to me de darkies got it in der heads
Dat I’m a free pond-shop
Sho’ly will inform ’em, and inform ’em quick
Dat friendship-bank’s done bust
I’m qwin’ ter notify dese glad-hand coons
Dat I don’t intend to run no trouble-trust
While a-nappin’, I heard a rappin
Last night, upon my window pane
Raised de window, dere was Abe Washington
Standin’ in de rain
Wife deserted him, car’d off ev’rything
Swore she never would come back
He requested dat I persuade her
So to Abe I had to ‘cite dis fack
Chorus
I’ve got troubles of my own
Go ‘way, leave a me alone
My friend can’t you see
Dat I’m jess busy as I can be?
His tale might a been a true
And he might a felt a blue
But I’m a grass-widower, too
I’ve got troubles of my own
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Ive_Got_Troubles_Of_My_Own MIDI
Sung here as a demonstration: