[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A coon song from 1898
Words and music by Leslie Stuart
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- It’s de same old tale of a palpatatin’ niggar
Ev’ry time, ev’ry time
It’s de same old trouble of a coon
Dat wants to be married very soon
It’s de same old heart dat is longing for it’s lady
Ev’ry time, yes, ev’ry time
But not de same gal, not de same gal
She is ma Lily, ma Lily, ma Lily gal
She goes ev’ry sundown, yes, ev’ry sundown
Callin’ in de cattle up de mountain
I go ‘kase she wants me, yes, ‘kase she wants me
Help her do de callin’ and de countin’
She plays her music
To call de lone lambs dat roam above
But I’m de black sheep and I’m waitin’
For de signal of ma little lady love.
Refrain
She’s my lady love
She is my dove, my baby love
She’s no gal for sitting down to dream
She’s the only queen Laguna knows
I know she likes me
I know she likes me, becase she says so
She is ma Lily of Laguna
She is ma Lily and ma rose
- When I first met Lil it was down at old Laguna
At de dance, de oder night
So she says: “Say, ah’m curious for to know
When ye leave here de way yer goin’ to go
‘Kase a wants to see who de lady is dat claims ye
All way home, way home tonight”
I says, “I’ve no gal, never had one”
And den ma Lily, ma Lily, ma Lily gal
She says, “Kern’t believe ye, ah kern’t believe ye
Else I’d like to have ye shaperoon me
Dad says he’ll escorcht me, says he’ll escorcht me
But it’s mighty easy for to lose him
Since then each sundown
I wander down here and roam around
Until I know ma little lady wants me
Till I hear de music ob de signal sound