See this post from this 2000 Mudcat thread: thread.cfm?threadid=17453

Subject: RE: Query: When was Tah Rah Rah Boom-di-Ay?
From: Lesley N. - PM
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 12:18 PM

This from the Fireside Book of American Songs:

TRRBDE was published in 1891. Herny Sayers, the composer, frankly says that the tune originated in Babe Bonner's famous St. Louis brother, sung by the fabulous nego singer Mama Lou. Sayers' song was a complete failure: America would have nothign to do with it. A year later, Lottie Collins, well-known music-hall singer of the day, sang it in London. Overnight it became a sensation. The music-hall crowds delighted in its rollicking rhythm and its nonsensical lines. Brought back to America by Lottie Collins in 1894 it was greeted with t he sam wild enthusiasm that the English had accorded it, and has remained on of America's most popular songs. (page 23)...

-snip-

My reading of this summary is that "Tah Ra Ra Boom De Ay" is another 19th century American song which has African American roots but is usually not credited to African Amerians.

**

Here's the lyrics to that song as posted in that thread:

TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DER-E
(words and music by Henry J. Sayers)

A sweet tuxedo girl you see,
Queen of swell society,
Fond of fun as fond can be,
When it's on the stict Q.T.
I'm not too young, I'm not too old,
Not too timid, not too bold,
Just the kind you'd like to hold,
Just the kind for sport, I'm told.
CHORUS: Ta-ra-ra Boom-der-e, etc.

I'm a blushing bud of innocence,
Papa says at big expense,
Old maids say I have no sense,
Boys declare I'm just immense.
Before my song I do conclude,
I want it strictly understood,
Thgo' fond of fun, I'm never rude,
tho' not too bad, I'm not too good.
CHORUS: Ta-ra-ra Boom-der-e, etc.

Published in 1891. Source: Fireside Book of American Songs.
Posted on that thread by Joe Offer

Additional versions of this song are also posted on that thread.