When I used to work on the levee, Many happy darkies there you see: Cotton coming in so very heavy: Oh! Jolly! there was lots of work for me: Black man hauling in the cargo: Sun am very hot upon the head; When he done he dance a jolly jargo: Rum tum! on the banjo and then to bed!
Chorus: To my oakum, to my chokum, Oh! Pompey, can't you pick a peck of oakum? Ah! ah! ah! ain't the levee nigger-free?
Solo: Working on the cotton boat, Ah! ah! ah! golly ain't the levee nigger-free.
Chorus: Oh, me! oh, my! mamma, mamma, mamma, why don't you hear the baby cry? Oh, me! oh my! ah mamma, mamma, mamma, don't you hear the baby cry?
When I used to work off in the river, Sat in* wood and water all the day: (*'satin' in sheet music) Chilly wind he come, and make me shiver: O glad this child he was to get away! White man he gave me silver dollar, Ev'ry day I work upon the dock; Then I get some whiskey, and I holler: Blom'e, blom'e, Caterego rock!
This child is fond of fried 'tatoe, Catfish and coffee: oh! it's nice; It make him feel just like an alligator, When him just about to catch a mice. When the bell he rings, I go to dinner; Den I goes and see my Dinah dear; I'll marry her, as sure as I'm a sinner, And love her all the days that's in the year.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html Click on music, and then Search. Sheet music, words and music by E. Warden, printed 1861 by Oliver Ditson, Boston.