Sich a Gitting Up Stairs

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

A popular song from the early minstrels
Published by Geo. Willig, Jr., Baltimore, 1834

The sheet music:

Accompaniment by Fred Feild:

Lyrics

1. On a Suskehanna raft
I come down de bay
And I danc’d, and I frolick’d
And fiddled all de way

Refrain
Sich a gitting up stairs I never did see
Sich a gitting up stairs I never did see

2. Trike he toe an heel
Cut de pigeon wing
Scratch gravel, slap de foot
Dat’s just de ting

3. I went to de play
And I see’d Jim Crow
Oh! nigger Isam den he swell
For Jim was no go

4. I look him in de face
Until I make him grin
And den I trow a backa quid
An’ hit him on de chin

5. Oh! I is dat boy
Dat know to preach a sarmont
Bout Temperance and seven up
And all dat kind of varmint

6. Nigger hold a meeting
About de Clonization
An dere I spoke a speech
About Amalgamation

7. To Washington I go
Dare I cut a swell
Cleaning gemmen’s boots
And ringin auction ball

8. I call on yaller Sal
Dat trade in sassenges
An dare I met big Joe
Which make my dander ris

9. Says I “You see dat door?
Just mosey, niggir Joe
For I’m a Suskyhanner boy
What knows a ting or two

10. An den I show my science
Prenez gardez vouz
Bung he eye, break he shin
Split de nose in two

11. Sal holler out
Den she jump between us
But guess he no forget de day
When Isam show his genus