You can see the sheet music at The Library of Congress American Memory collection:


"Buckley's Comic Songs as sung by R. Bishop Buckley of Buckley's Serenaders"
TAPIOCA
Edward Warden
Boston: Henry Tolman & Co. [c1860?]

1. When I used to work upon 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! Golly, ain't the Levee nigger free?
Working on the cotton boat, ten shilling a day,
Johnny, can't you pick upon the banjo?
Oh! me, Oh! my,
Mamma, mamma, mamma, don't you hear the baby cry?
Oh! me, Oh! my,
Ah! mamma, mamma, mamma, don't you hear the baby cry?

2. When I used to work off in the river,
Satin wood and water all the day,
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, Caterrego rock."

3. This child is fond of fried 'tato,
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.