The King's Men (sic) sang it on a "Fibber McGee and Molly" show. I don't have the date, but I would guess the late 1930s. I jumped on my minidisc recorder and got everything but their first verse. Here it is, exactly as they sang it ... in 4-part harmony:
TAPIOCA
Tapioca, Tapioca,
Mammy, won't you let me pick upon the polka?
If you let me-oka, Tapioca,
Come on, we'll have a jubilee!
Working on the railroad, twenty cents a day,
Johnny pluck a tune on the banjo.
Oh me, my oh my,
Mammy Mammy Mammy, don't you hear the baby cry?
Working on the railroad, never get a pay,
Johnny pluck a tune on the banjo.
Oh me, my oh my,
Mammy Mammy Mammy, don't you hear the baby cry?
See the chillun rollin' in de cotton,
Sun pouring down upon their heads;
Somebody got to make a living,
Chillun got to have a little bread.
Tapioca, Tapioca,
Won't your mammy let you pick upon the polka?
Tapioca, Tapioca,
Come on, we'll have a jubilee!
Working on the railroad, twenty cents a day,
Johnny pluck a tune on your banjo.
Oh me, my oh my,
Mammy Mammy Mammy, don't you hear the baby cry?
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