[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
Negro character song and dance, 1896.
Words by Dave Barton.
Music by N. Clark Smith.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. There’s an old colored man
By the name of uncle Dan
He was always as happy as could be
He would work all the week
And on Saturday night
He would go out on a drunken spree
Now this old Dan was a lively old man
When he had ten cents to rush the can
If he met a Policeman on his way home
De’se am de words he’d say
O! O! O!
Refrain
Oh! Mistah Police, don’t ‘rest me
I am going home don’t you see
For I’ve been drinking my ever good wine
Oh! Mister Police, turn me loose
I’ve got no money but a good excuse
I’ve been having my ever good time
2. Last Saturday night, he came home tight
A sight for his wife to see
As he stepped in the door, he fell on the floor
Saying to his wife come ‘ere to me
She came in a run but oh what fun
If he hadn’t been drunk I know he’d run
For she grabbed him by the hair
An hit him with a chair
An de’se am de words he said
(Drunken hecups)