When Uncle Joe Plays a Rag

[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]

On his old banjo (plankity plank), 1912
words by D. A. Esrom
music by Theodore Morse

The sheet music:

When Uncle Joe Plays a Rag – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

When_Uncle_Joe_Plays_A_Rag_On_His_Old_Banjo – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. Down in Dixie lives old Uncle Joe
    Down in Dixie that’s the place to go
    Where you sure will hear some music grand
    Sweetest melodies in all the land
    Every night beneath the southern moon
    Uncle Joe would play a raggy tune
    Things begin to hum, when he starts to strum
    A rag upon his old banjo

Chorus
When Uncle Joe plays a rag on his old banjo
Everybody starts a-swaying to and fro
Mammy waddles all around the cabin floor
Yelling “Uncle Joe, gimme more, gimme more”
Folks come a-running when they hear the sound
Singing and a-dancing ‘till they shake the ground
When Uncle Joe (plankity plank)
Plays a rag (plankity plank) on his old banjo

  1. Ev’ry night outside the cabin door
    You’ll see things you never saw before
    Shufflin’ wing steps and Virginia reels
    Old ones, young ones, kicking up their heels
    Uncle Joe keeps playing all the while
    Raggy tunes and in the latest style
    “Go on, Uncle Joe, keep on, Uncle Joe
    A plunking on your old banjo”

Sung here by Fred Feild: