The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #33317 Message #2151032
Posted By: Jim Dixon
17-Sep-07 - 08:40 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Go Way Back and Sit Down
Subject: Lyr Add: GO WAY BACK AND SIT DOWN (Bowman, Johns)
Indiana University has the sheet music, but images aren't available online. The lyrics were copied from eBay, where a copy of the sheet music is being offered for sale. The Internet Archive has a recording sung by Dan W. Quinn. The Library of Congress has a version, lacking the second verse, sung by Silas Leachman. The Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project has a recording by Will F. Denny.
GO WAY BACK AND SIT DOWN Words, Elmer Bowman. Music, Al Johns. New York : F.A. Mills, 1901. Performer: Grace Tysou
Old Sam Jones runs and owns A cafe on Easy Street, But a coon hangs 'round that he calls down That will never ever treat. He likes his gin and will "butt in" To every argument, But when Sam's there, he doesn't dare; He acts much different. He ain't got nothin', won't do nothing'. There's nothing he will try, But humiliates and aggravates The customers that buy. 'Twas left to Sam, the proprietor man, To find this darkey out, And when he did, there was nothing hid. Everybody heard Sam shout:
CHORUS: "Go way back, and sit down. Coons in your class are easy found. You seldom have money. You never treat. Get in your place and take a back seat. Go way back and sit down."
This coon will hear for many a year "Go way back and sit down". He's got no vim. The shoe fits him, Still he keeps on hanging around. He still does say there'll come the day When better times he'll see. If he keeps his health, he'll sure have wealth And live in luxury. He bet on a horse that always lost, The coons all laughed at him. But this time it won at a hundred to one, Then thousands he "cashed in". He left the field in an automobile That took him to Sam's place. Sam thought he was broke, and started to joke, So he told Sam to his face: CHORUS