[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1917
Words and music by Al. Sweet
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Mose Brown came a staggerin’ home one morn
Tears in his eyes and lookin’ all forlorn
His wifey met him with such an awful frown
Said he, “My dear, now won’t you please sit down
And listen to me while a sad tale I relate
Of de news I hear what got me to dis state
Last night I went to church and I feel so blue
What that parson say I will tell to you
Chorus
“Oh! my Brothers and Sisters
Listen to what I say
By nineteen-twenty dere’ll be no boose
Sold in the U. S. A.
De whole country am a-goin’ bone dry
Prohibition am de battle cry
‘Scuse me while I shed a tear
For good old whiskey, gin and beer
Goodbye forever, Goodbye forever
Ah got de Prohibition, Prohibition
Prohibition Blues”
- I got up and walked right out of dat church
On the steps then I met old Sam’l Birch
“Why Moses,” he say, “what make you look so blue”
I tell him an’ he say, “If dat am true
Dat dry times comin’ an’ dere goin’ to can de booze
Come on to the corner, dere’s no time to lose”
So we just started in drinkin’ gainst dat day
When I’d try to stop, then old Sam would say