You Look Better Goin’ Then You Do a Comin’

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

A popular song from 1914
Words by Witherow and Carey
Music by Walter E. Davison


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. In coontown lived a gal
    By the name of Linda Green
    And ever night with Big Sam Jones
    Miss Linda would be seen
    And one day they got Married
    And for a year or more
    Miss Linda took in washin’
    While old Sam would lay and snore
    Then Sam he ne’er dropped dead
    When to him his wife said

Chorus
You look better goin’ then you do a comin’
So get right out of here
You lazy coon, you’d sleep till noon
While your poor wife works for you
So, get right up, put on your hat
Get out that door and don’t come back
For you look better goin’ than you do a-comin’
So, get right out of here

  1. Oh, it was wet and cold
    When Same from a boxcar
    Rolled back to his Linda
    He would go and tell his tale of woe
    Kisses he thought he’d get
    A juicy pie and omelet
    But when he reached his home
    Once more he found this on the door
    Then Sam got down and cried
    When o’er these words he sighed