Julianna Johnson

[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]

A minstrel song from 1845
Words and music by C. A. White

The sheet music:

Julianna Johnson – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:

Julianna Johnson – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. Day has gone, and night has come,
    And we niggers take our rest,
    Ob all the gals dat come dis way.
    Julianna suits me best;

CHORUS [sung after each verse]
Den Julianna Johnson dont you cry.
Ise gwan away for to leabe you.
Wait a little while I’ll come byne bye,
Dont you let my parting grieve you.

  1. Julianna she is berry tall,
    She’s slender bout dat waist,
    She’s got such a pair ob lubly lips.
    How I long for dem to taste.
  2. I took Julianna from her home,
    And we trabbled cross dem fields.
    She got fast in a ditch & couldn’t get out
    For de largeness ob dem heels.
  3. Julianna she is de royal blood
    To de great Victoria Anna;
    And I was her belobed lobe,
    Case I play’d on dis piana.
  4. De railroad is mighty swift—
    But de niggers legs is swifter;
    And I’ll go down to old birviny,
    And marry pop Miller’s sister.
  5. Pop Miller’s daughter sent me word,
    And seal’d it in a letter.
    She said “my lub she’d nebber be.”
    And it broke my heart for eber