[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A minstrel song sung by the Harmoneons, 1845
Words by M. S. Pike
Music by L. V. H. Crosby
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
- Long long ago I got acquainted
With a gall so strait and tall;
O! wasn’t she a lubly creature,
And her name was Nancy Paul.
CHORUS [after each verse]
Miss Nancy’s form all folks admire,
She’s six feet high, perhaps some higher,
O! Nancy Paul – – – – –
O! Nancy Paul – – – – –
You’re de handsomest gall ob de Niggers all,
O! Nancy Paul – – – – –
O! Nancy Paul – – – – –
She’s de handsomest gall ob de Niggers all.
- I gib Miss Nanc and inbitation,
To go and dance at a ball;
She laugh’d and said she’s bery willing,
So I danced with Nancy Paul. - Since den I call’d on Nancy often,
I take her by her hand so small,
And look up in her sparkling eyes
And say I lub you Nancy Paul. - She told me I had stole her ‘fections,
Dat I must bery often call
She said I was her darling nigger,
I said she_was my Nancy Paul. - And now dear Nanc and I is married,
De little childrens round us squall,
Dey sing we lub our darlin daddy,
Because he_married Nancy Paul