[Warning: contains the N-word and other racial stereotypes. Original presented as an important part of music history.]
a 1896 popular song
words and music by Ben R. Harney
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. T’other eb’ning eb’ryting was still, Oh! babe
De moon was climbin’ down behind de hill, Oh! babe
T’ought eb’ry body was a sound a sleep
But a old man a Johnson was a on his beat, Oh! babe
I went down into a nigger crap game
Where de coons were a gambling wid a might and main
T’ought I’d a be a sport and be dead game
I gambled my money and I wasn’t to blame
One nigger’s point was a little, a Joe
Bettin’ six bits t’a quarter he could make de four
He made dat point but he made no more
Just den Johnson jumped through de door
Chorus
Oh! Mister Johnson turn me loose
Got no money but a good excuse
Oh! Mister Johnson, I’ll be good
Oh! Mister Johnson turn me loose
Don’t take me to de calaboose
Oh! Mister Johnson, I’ll be good
2. T’other eb’ning when the sun was down, Oh! babe
I went down old man Johnson’s chicken farm, Oh! babe
Climb’d in de chicken loft on my knees
Was a halfway a through when de chicken sneezed, Oh! babe
I’ll tell you, if you will only keep still
‘Bout mile and a half from Louisville
I am so nerbous dat I can’t keep still
When I think about it I can feel a big chill
A big black coon was a lookin’ fer chickens
When a great big bulldog got to rasin’ the dickens
De coon got higher, de chicken got nigher
Just den Johnson opened up fire
Chorus
I got no chance for to be turned loose
Got no chance for a good excuse
Oh! Mister Johnson, I’ll be good
And now he’s playin’ seben eleben
Way up yonder in de nigger heab’n
Oh! Mister Johnson made him good
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Sung here by Fred Feild: