[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1899.
Words and music by Ed. Rogers.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- On the Grand Midway stood a wench one day
Just a-watching how folks pranced
Said she, “I think, wid a naughty wink
I could do dat style of dance”
It was overheard by a Turkey bird
And he said, “Now it that’s meant
Ma burly coon, I will teach you soon
If you’ll join my Orient
Chorus
She is an Oriental Coon
Colored folks think she’ll go crazy soon
For years she danced the bombershay
Now the Kaya, on the Grand Midway
For she is an Oriental Coon
- Coontown went wild when this colored child
Skipped to Europe, so they say
But from there she flew, with a fat Turk who
Lost his life Thanksgiving day
Then she sailed for home, said, “No more I’ll roam”
But her coon friends all were sore
Her grand display, from the old midway
They’d no use for anymore