[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1911.
Words by L. Wolfe Gilbert.
Music by Melville J. Gideon.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Down in Alabamy
Lives a colored Mammy
She’s just as gray as can be
Down on the Levee, tho’ Mammy’s heavy
There’s none can dance as she
See the pickaninnies a playing some tag
Hear the older darkies a humming a rag
‘Ninnies stop their tagging
Darkies stop their ragging
When ole Mammy starts to dance
Chorus
Mammy’s shufflin’ dance
Mammy’s shufflin’ dance
Oh! you “Grizzly Bear”
“Cubanola Glide”
None of them compare
With ole mammy’s slide
Balmy morning in June
Banjos playing a tune
I wish I was home again
So I could hear again
Mammy’s little shufflin’ dance
In the morning
Mammy’s little shufflin’ dance
2. Down in Alabamy
Preacher said, “Now Mammy
Don’t do that shufflin’ dance
Sure it’s a winner, but, you old sinner
You’re much too old to chance”
Mammy said, “Now preacher
I means no harm”
Then she went and grabbed him
Right by the arm
Soon they were a slidin’
Soon they both were glidin’
While the preacher laughed with glee
Sung here by Fred Feild: