[Disclaimer: these lyrics are from a time when disturbing terms were in common use for African-Americans. This is not condoned by Sheet Music Singer. The song is presented in original form as part of musical history.]
rag song with trombone obligato, 1915
words and music by W. C. Handy
The sheet music:
Lyrics
- Shoeboot Reeder was the leader
Of a colored band, music sweet and grand
How he sang and played
One summer night in Southern moonlight
‘Neath a vineclad window
He to his Melinda, sang this serenade
Chorus
I woke up this morning
With the blues all ’round my bed
Thinking about what you , my baby, said
Do say the word and give my poor heart ease
The blues ain’t nothing but the fatal heart disease
I’ll have to leave this town
Just to wear you off my mind
Can’t sleep for dreaming, can’t laugh for cryin’
So in the moonlight Shoeboots played
His little serenade
- Under the window, Shoeboot took Linda
For his wedded wife, tied the knot for life
Claimed her for his own
Just a few pennies, twin picaninnies
Work scarce, eats one meal a day
Sad at heart he tries to play on his old Trombone
Sung here by Fred Feild: