Lyr Add: Tapioca (minstrel)

Subject: Lyr Add: Tapioca (minstrel)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:01 PM

Lyr. Add: TAPIOCA
Edward Warden, 1861

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.

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Sheet music, words and music by E. Warden, printed 1861 by Oliver Ditson, Boston.

Also printed as song sheet by H. De Marsan, NY.