[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A song in “Geo. H. Primrose All-Star Minstrels”, 1905.
Words by Bert Fitzgibbon.
Music by Henry Frantzen.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Jasper Williams was a sleepy coon
That never looked well dressed
His clothes was always wrinkled
And his pants were never, never pressed
He was just like Rip Van Winkle
He would sleep both night and day
Like a lions roaring you could hear him snoring
For a many miles away
By the side of his folding bed
His wife each a morning said
Chorus
Jasper, Jasper, don’t you hear me calling you?
Jasper, I’ve been calling ’till my face am blue
The house is cold, get up and fetch the kindling wood
Or I’ll forget my love for you and soak you, good
Jasper, Jasper, don’t you hear me calling you?
- Jasper Williams, this sleepy coon
Had a dream one winter’s night
He dreamt he was a millionaire
And owned everything in sight
The flat-iron building, subway too
He bought while in his sleep
A very funny feeling over him came stealing
Someone was tickling his feet
And again by the same old bed
His poor wife then once more said