[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1912.
Words and music by Irving Berlin.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Curly-headed pickaninny acting gay
He’s been bad all day and he won’t obey
Talking back to Mammy in a sassy way
Makes her look with much surprise
Mammy starts to holler as a Mammy would
“Won’t you please be good, like a good boy should?”
But it doesn’t seem to do any good
So she finally cries
Chorus
Wait until your Daddy comes home
Wait until your Daddy comes home
I’ll tell him how you’ve been talking to your Mammy
Since he started to roam
Wait until I tell him the way
You’ve been misbehaving today
He’ll press your pants in a manner nice and fine
Right on the spot where the sun will never shine
Lawdy! how you’re going to groan
When your loving Daddy comes home
2. Curly-headed pickaninny jumps about
Sticks his tongue ‘way out at his Mammy stout
Steps upon his Mammy’s foot, the one with gout
Till it almost broke apart
Mammy lays the pickaninny on her lap
In her hand a strap, ready for the rap
But she hollers as she lays down the strap
“No, I haven’t the heart”
Sung here by Fred Feild: