[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1898.
Words and music by Billy Caldwell.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Way down in Mississippi
Where the ivory blossoms bloom
Where the sun is shining
And makes us happy coons
There is a girl named Dina Lee
I love dearer than my life
She promised me her hand some day
That she would be my wife
She is the sweetest flower
The garden ever grew
For I love her dearly
And I know she loves me too
Each evening after sundown
The girl I’d go to see
I know her, I adore her
My wife soon she will be
Chorus
Twelve o’clock the wedding bells will ring
All the culled folks presents us will bring
A grand event I’m sure it’s going to be
Eleck Hobbs will lose his mind
When I marry Miss Dina Lee
- Now the weddin’s over
I’m as happy as can be
Two years or more have past and gone
My sweetheart’s so light and free
So early every morning
Just at the break of day
I watch my culled babies
And their “mam to me does say
“Why, get your banjo from the wall
And play your lullaby
While I fry the Johnny cakes
‘For they commence to cry”
Down among the sugarcane
Each day they romp and play
I’m happy, I’m their pappy
I could throw myself away