[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1897
Words and music by J. W. Dick
Arranged by Emil Biermann
The sheet music:
Lyrics
1. O babies, gather ’round old Uncle Rastus
I wants to tell you something very strange
The color of the moon am gwine to change
And a coon is to blame
The white trash will fool all those wot’s easy
They think we are ignorant I presume
The eclipse tomorrow night will prove that I is right
There’s a nigger in the moon
CHORUS:
No white trash can fool me, fool me, fool me
There’s a nigger in the moon
Rastus knows eclipse, eclipse, eclipse
Is caused by a coon
Some day just wander, wander, wander
Way up in a balloon
And then you’ll know what I know
There’s a nigger in the moon
2. Now every warm coon, they has a Venus
Whether on this earth or in the sky above
And behind the moon I know there is a lady
Warmest baby when night’s shady
This coon he loves his Venus so madly
Seems he’d hang behind the moon till break of doom
But when he comes round our way
Just remember what I say
There’s a nigger in the moon