[Warning: contains racial stereotypes. Original presented as part of music history.]
a 1920 mammy’s lullaby
words and music by Chas. K. Harris
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
Close yo’ eyes ma pickanniny
Don’t you cry no moah
You’ll be white like other babies
Up in Heaven suah
Refrain
Dream on ma Mississippi Baby
And who knows maybe
You’ll be a white faced angel
Flying fru de sky and den you’ll
See all dem white faced chillun
Crowd all around so willin’
Askin’ to play with you my Mississippi Babe
Piu mosso (a little faster):
Every time I see you cryin’
Den yo Mammy’s sighin’
Every white chile I’m juss hatin’
‘Cause your little heart am breakin’
How you know why you is black
And why your hair is kinky
Jess de same de good Lord knows
Your soul am white as snow, So
Refrain
Dream on ma Mississippi Baby
And who knows maybe
You’ll be a white faced angel
Flying fru de sky and den you’ll
See all dem white faced chillun
Crowd all around so willin’
Askin’ to play with you
My Mississippi sugar baby mine
Ma angel chile
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Sung here by Fred Feild: