[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1904
Words by Bob Cole and James W. Johnson
Music by Bob Cole
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. No doubt you’ve heard of Sambo
The lad who plays the banjo
And sings sweet songs to his dusky lady love
You’ve heard also of Dinah
The gal from Carolina
With pearly teeth and eyes
Just like the stars above (stars above)
Suppose you could be list’ning
While Dinah’s eyes are glist’ning
And Mister Sambo plunks his banjo
While he tries to woo
Their love you’d hear them stammer
Without respect to grammar
For this is how these dusky lovers
Bill and coo (bill and coo)
This is how these dusky lovers bill and coo
Chorus
Sambo says to Dinah, “Does yo love me?”
Dinah says to Sambo, “Deed I do” (deed I do)
Sambo says to Dinah, “Gal I wants you”
Dinah says to Sambo, “I wants you, too” (wants you too)
Sambo says, “I’m feelin’ kinder lonely”
Dinah says, “I’m feelin’ jes’ de same” (jes de same)
Sambo says, “Den tell me darlin’ Dinah
When you g’wine to let me change yo’ name”
2. Then Sambo with the banjo
Says, “Does I understand yo’
To say you loves me
As much as I love you?”
And she with heart a-pining
Her teeth and eyes a-shining
Says “Dats jes what I said
And it am sholy true” (sholy true)
Then Sambo says, “Oh! Dinah,
No gal am mo’ divinah
You’se sweeter far to me
Dan honey in de honey comb”
“Don’t talk so tantalizin'”
Says Dinah “I’m surmisin’
You’se fixin’ now to make me
Leave my happy home” (happy home)
Fixin’ now to make me leave my happy home
Sung here by Fred Feild: