Shufflin’ Along

[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]

From the show “Carry On”, 1922.
Words by Ralph Stanley.
Music by Nat D. Ayer.

The sheet music:

Shufflin-Along – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

Shufflin_Along – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. Here’s a tale about a darkey
    Who was born in London Town
    When he heard about old Dixie
    Well he couldn’t settle down
    Fields of cotton seem’d to call him
    How they call’d him night and day
    Ask him why he keeps on walking
    He will smile at you, and say

Refrain
I’m shufflin’, shufflin, shufflin’ along
Shufflin’, shufflin’ along with a song
For there’s only one place in this world
I wanna be before I die
It’s a long, long way to have to walk each day
But I’ll get there by and by
By shufflin’, shufflin’, shufflin’ along
Don’t know if I’m on the right road or wrong
But there’s sure to be some jubilee
When the dear old folks at home see me
Come shufflin’, shufflin’, shufflin’ along

  1. Years have pass’d since first he started
    On his walk to Dixieland
    But he’s always cheerful hearted
    ‘Cause he doesn’t understand
    Doesn’t understand that Dixie
    Lies away across the foam
    So you’ll always hear him mumbling
    Thinking that he’s nearing home

Sung here by Fred Feild: