[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1903
Words by Edgar Smith
Music by Gus Edwards
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Our darkey lays and rag time ways
Have lately crossed the sea
The cake walk dance is seen in France
At every jubilee
They’ve grabbed cross the ocean
That syncopated motion
Of coon songs they’ve this notion
In La Belle Laree
Chorus:
Je vous aime, ma Mam’ zelle Honee
Vous etes zee monee, ma huckle berry
You are charmant like ze possum
Ma banjo blossom, Honee ma cherrie
- No more the wine producing vine
Adorns the vineyard’s brown
Along the Seine they’re raising cane
And watermelons now
The garlic they are flagging
And cotton they are bagging
While Jean and Pierre are ragging
As they push the plow