[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
From the farce comedy “A Trip To Coontown”, 1897.
Words by Billy Johnson.
Music by Bob Cole.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. There’s a dead swell gentleman of color
Saved up all the money he could find
He call’d one night and said to his baby
“My Lulu gal we’ll go and cut a shine”
He put her in a cab and told the driver
“To drive us to the swellest place in town
I’m gwine to buy my gal a fine supper
So I want the finest place that can be found”
To a swell restaurant the driver took them
With his Lulu gal he started in so proud
But that coon almost went blind
When he saw a great big sign
Up o’er the door which read
“No coons allowed”
Chorus
“No coons allowed, no coons allowed
This place is meant for white folks, that’s all
We don’t want no kinky-head kind
So move on darky down the line
No coons allow’d in here at all”
2. So this coon got mighty offended
Commenc’d to swearing vengeance by the yard
To be thrown down in the presence of his baby
‘Deed it hurt this darky’s feelings mighty hard
So he rush’d on downtown to a lawyer
And told him bout the sign that he had seen
He said “Boss, can’t you sue the firm for damage
‘Case I think that I’ve been treated mighty mean”
So the lawyer took the coon to the courthouse
And they started in the courthouse with a crowd
But his head began to swim
When he saw that sign again
O’er the courthouse door which read
“No coons allowed”