[Warning: contains racial stereotypes. This song is presented here for educational and historical purposes only.]
A popular song from the year 1905.
words by Andrew B. Sterling
music by Harry Von Tilzer
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Who dat a-knockin’ at the door below
Who dat a shiv’rin’ in the hail and snow
I can hear you grumblin’ Mister Rufus Brown
Just keep on a-knockin’ babe, I won’t come down
I wants to tell you that you can’t get in
Have you been a gamblin’ Honey, did you win?
What’s that you tell me man, you lost your breath
I hopes you freezes to death
Chorus
Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown
What you goin’ to do when the rent comes ’round?
What you goin’ to say, how you goin’t to pay
You’ll never have a bit of sense till judgement day
You know, I know, rent means dough
Landlord’s goin’ to put us out in the snow
Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown
What you goin’ to do when the rent comes ’round?
2. Keep on a-bangin’ on the old front door
In just a minute babe you’ll hear me snore
If I goes to bed without a bite or sup
You will be an icicle when I wakes up
Where’s all the money that you said you’d bring
Melted all away just like the snow last Spring
Rufus I loves you, but this serves you right
Guess that’s sufficient, “Good-night”
Sung here by Fred Feild:
What_You_Goin_To_Do_When_The_Rent_Comes_Round – MIDI