Warning: racial stereotypes. Original presented as a part of music history.]
A comic song from the year 1897.
Words by Billy Johnson. Music by Bob Cole.
Arranged by Theo. F. Morse
The sheet music:
Lyrics
1. I heard there’s gwine to be
A mighty jubilee
Way down in Chinatown tomorrow morning
All the Chinese in the land
Must surely be on hand
For the Chinese Embassador has given warning
The cause of this affair
Is strange I do declare
It’s the funniest thing that’s happen’d for many a moon
Of all things beneath the skies
This will be a great surprise
For a pretty Chinese girl will wed a coon
Chorus
This strange amalgamation
Twixt these two funny nations
Gwine to cause an awful jamble soon
Twill cause a great sensation
Over the whole creation
The wedding of the Chinee and the coon
2. There’ve been invitations rare
Sent to coons far and near
All Diplomats from coon-ville must be ready
To join in with the band
Of the heathen Chinamen
Every coon’s expected to walk steady
I know there’ll be a time
And lots of Chinee wine
Chop-suey that will puff you like a balloon
Don’t inquire why it is
For they’ll say its none your biz
When this pretty Chinese girl will wed a coon
3. Decorations gay
For now’s the wedding day
The coons and Chinese all mingle together
A dispute arose
Which minister to choose
The Joss-house Priest or Parson chicken feather
Chinese began to stare
At razors in the air
Ev’ry Chinee eye look’d like a balloon
Now what were they to do
Chinese preacher lost his cue
The coon Parson joined the Chinee and the coon
Sung here by Fred Feild: