Uncle Sammy’s Melting Pot

A 1923 popular song.
Words by Noah F. Tillery.
Music by Harry F. Windle.


Sheet music provided by Kevin Lockwood:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. Uncle Sam was awful angry
    Just as angry as could be
    At the manners of his children
    Some that came across the sea
    They would not even try and mind him
    Did not care to learn their books
    Ev’ry time they were reproven
    They’d give him saucy looks
    Always trying to make trouble
    With the balance of the class
    It seemed useless to school them
    They would never, never pass

Chorus
If you do not like your teacher
And our school is bunk to you
Then for goodness sake, You’d better pull stakes
And sail back across the blue
You have eaten of our fig tree
You have drank our honey dew
There was no other who like a mother
Would have opened their arms to you
You have proven so ungrateful
We surely will miss you not
You’re nothing but scums, Just stealing the crumbs
You’ve melted our melting pot

  1. Freedom is why you came over
    Don’t act like a silly fool
    You can never be good children
    Till you learn the golden rule
    You were oppressed in your homeland
    Here is plenty for all
    We like the good old time shepherd
    Did hear your plaintive call
    If you do not like your teacher
    And to you our rules seem slack
    The ship that brought you over
    Is waiting to take you back

Sung here by Vancha March: