[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
An early minstrel song from 1836
Words and music by William Clifton
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
1. I am de sassy niggar
An dey call me Jim Brown
I plays upon de Bonjo all about de town
I hate de common niggar
I no shake dem by de han
O shaw, I am de leader
Ob de famus niggar ban
I plays upon de fife
An I plays upon de drum
I am de bes musian dat now or ebber swum
Refrain
Lalle doodle lalle doodle lalle doodle laddle la
Lalle doodle lalle doodle lalle doodle daddle da
2. De way I comes to play de Fife
An carry ob de Sword
I practie on de Bonjo
Wid sugar in de guord
De niggar’s day all dance
Wen I begin to play
Dey dance from de mornin till de close ob day
I play upon de Bonjo, where eber I do go
An wen I kiss de lubly gals, I smack jis so
3. De gals in de city dey all run arter me
Because I am so hansome de like dey neber see
Dey coax me to choose one ob dem
But I don’t know who shall be
Dey are such lubly creters
An dey all lubs me
I plays upon de Harp
An den dey sing so sweet
O shaw, it does my heart good
Wen eber we do meet
4. I was born on Long Island
Dar close to Oyster Bay
I work upon de farm dar
For two shillings a day
But my genus dat too great
For Massa to diskiver
So I jump on board de Steam Boat
As she cum down de riber
I plays upon de Gong, de tune dey call Jim Crow
De way I raise de steam on board was no ways show
5. I den lan in great style, de first at Astor house
I ax dem to serve up well cook’d, a fine roast mouse
I gobled dat all down, an den I call for drink
Dey gib me den so much ob dat, my eyes begun to blink
I plays upon de Lyre, an dey begin to sing
O shaw, dey dont know music, or any such a ting
6. I den goes to de play house de opperer to see
To critecise on Mr Wood, for he knows me
He’s bery good in some tings, but can’t wid me compare
For instance in Bravurers, I make de hole house stare
I plays upon de Fiddle, and dey all cry sing, Jim Brown
I ax dem pray excuse me, fore I hab just cum to Town
7. I den goes to de Mayor, I ax for a commission
To lead de famus Brass Ban I show him my petition
He say he tink me first rate, he beg me take a seat
Wid all de Corporation, I dar set down to eat
I plays upon de Trombone, to see wat dey would say
One Alderman he bawls out, Jim Brown sound your A
8. Since Music in dis city, now be all de rage
I’ll teach de skientific an sing upon de stage
O den I’ll hab de encores, from all de lubly sex
An wen I choose one for my wife
O, de rest ob dem be vex
I plays on de Piano, I teach dem dance so gay
O shaw, I lub de charmin gals, any time ob day
Sung here by Fred Feild: