[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A minstrel song from 1840
Music by Edward Harper
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
1. Oh! I’se from Lucianna as you all know
Dar whare Jim along Josey’s all de go
Dem niggars all rise when de bell does ring
And dis is de song dat dey do sing
Refrain
Hey get along, get along Josey
Hey get along, Jim along Joe
Hey get along, get along Josey
Hey get along, Jim along Joe
2. Oh! when I gets dat new coat
Which I expects to hab soon
Likewise a new pair tight-knee’d trousaloon
Den I walks up and down Broadway
Wid my Susanna
And de white folks will take me to be Santa Anna
3. My sister Rose de oder night did dream
Dat she was floating up and down de stream
And when she woke she began to cry
And de white cat picked out de black cat’s eye
4. Now way down south not very far off
A bullfrog died wid de hooping cough
And de oder side of Mississippi
As you must know
Dare’s where I was christen’d Jim along Joe
5. De New York niggers tink dey’re fine
Because dey drink de genuine
De southern niggers dey lib on mush
And when dey laugh dey say Oh Hush
6. I’me de nigger that don’t mind my troubles
Because dey are noting more dan bubbles
De ambition that dis nigger feels
Is showing de science of his heels
7. De fust President we eber had
Was Gen’ral Washington
And de one we’ve got now is Martin Van Buren
But altho’ Gen’ral Washington’s dead
As long as de country stands
His name shall float ahead
Sung here by Fred Feild: