A 1904 popular song
words by G. Barker Richardson
music by Albert Von Tilzer
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Denese Coulbeck:
Lyrics
- Now de white folks all been claimin’
In de last few years gone by
If a darkey don’t eat chicken
He am surely gwine to die
But when dey done dis figerin’
I ‘spect day left me out
For de day am gwine to be quite cold
When I fo’ chicken shout
If dere were fo’ty ‘leben chickens
Sittin’ on one roost
An de do’ was lef’ wide open
Fo’ dem I’d hab no use
But if I saw a watermelon
Growin’ on de vine
I’d be right dere wid bof’ feet
‘Round watermelon time
Chorus
Watermelon am good enough for mine
I has no use for chicken
‘Round watermelon time
If you wants to get ma gratitude
And see ma black eyes shine
Just pick me out a watermelon
Dat am good enough for mine
- From de bosom ob his fam’ly
In de town’s old Caliboose
He was charged with moral suasion
On his neighbor’s chicken roost
But circumstantial evidence
And experts by de score
Claimed dat under Johnson’s fingernails
Dey found some chicken gore
Den Johnson rose and to de Judge
Dese solemn words he said
“I called upon no chicken roost
But melon patch instead
It don’t require no Sherlock Holmes
To prove what I have said
‘Case you all know de same as me
Dat melon’s blood am red
Chorus
Watermelon am good enough for mine
I has no use for chicken
‘Round watermelon time
Fo’ I can prove an alibi
And by ole Deacon Prime
Dat I’se strictly vegatarriarrian
‘Round watermelon time