[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
a 1919 waltz song
words by Sam Coslow
music by Peter De Rose
arranged by Eugene Plateman
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Mammy, old and gray, Mammy, far away
Singing soft and low, “Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry”
Mammy, once again, I am on your knee
Dreaming once again, While I hear you sing to me
Refrain
Choc’late and molasses are a-growing on the trees
Humming birds a-humming pretty Dixie melodies
Melons are growing most ev’rywhere you go
Sweet breezes blowing in fields as white as snow
Silver headed mammies crooning tender lullabies
Down in Alabammy underneath the southern skies
Jam and lots of candy covered up with honey cream
That’s a picaninny’s dream
Obligato:
Sweet melons growing, sweet breezes blowing
Angels are watching I know
While mammy sings soft and low
Sleet honey sleep in slumber deep
Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, that’s a pickaninny’s dream
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Sung here by Fred Feild: