[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
An “ultra” dark town hit from 1899
Words and music by Smart & Williams
The sheet music
Lyrics
1. The coons they gave a festival the other night
They asked me down because they knew that I was right
With my forty dollar suit on and my diamond pin
You ought to see them wenches smile when I came in
The gals they swarmed around me so fast and thick
Of course you know I naturally had to take my pick
I choosed the prettiest yaller gal that was in the crowd
I took this gal I started down to tea
When a big black burly grabbed a hold of me
He says, “I guess you better let that lady be
If you don’t I will fill you full of misery”
I struck at this coon but he dodged the blow
He kicked me on the shins and I struck the floor
With tears in my eyes I tried to pologize
But this is what the coon did say
Chorus:
“That ain’t no talk to give me, Mister Nigger
That ain’t no talk to give me
I know you are a bad coon from Chicago
But I’m from Tennessee
There’s no need of cryin’
That gal’s mine, I won’t accept that ‘pology
Cause when you try to “con” me out of my best gal
Why that ain’t no talk to give me”
2. I was very much insulted over that affair
Because I was considered a black millionaire
I went to this gal’s house’ cause she had done me wrong
In the hallway stood this nigger with his habits on
I invited him out in the yard to fight
Because I didn’t kind a think he’d been treating me right
I took an oath I was going to kill him on the spot
He stood upon his dig, and said “take a stroll
You’re standing in my light and your acting too bold”
My temper then I couldn’t control
The way that I was treated was awfully cold
I swelled up like a frog and the language I used
Will never be published in the Daily News
This coon commenced to frown when I called him down
And this was his reply