Lyr Add: Jim Crow's Trip to the Royal Wedding

Subject: Lyr Add: Jim Crow's Trip to the royal wedding
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 06:34 AM

A truly weird, sick song, c1840's? 1850's? Of English origin, from bodelian.

  
  (A)    E                          A 
  I am come again to visit you as you may see and know 
          E     /D      /C#       /B   E7   A
  To the royal wedding they've invited Jim Crow
  
  CHORUS
          E       (b5)    7                 A            D         
  So you see you English men and maids so buxom and so keen
        A              D            A       E7      A
  Jim Crow has been invited to the wedding of the Queen
  
  I toddled from Kentucky last Monday morning soon
  and came by steam to England in a paper bag balloon
  
  I landed at de tower, and the guns begin to blow
  When the ladies run from every part to see Jim Crow
  
  Den I got into a donkey cart, and to Buckingham palace quick did go
  When the lords and ladies hollar, "here is King Jim Crow"
  
  I said "where is her Majesty," said the Duke, "she's down below,"
  "Den I say tell her come directly, to King Jim crow."
  
  She come out like an angel so charming and so fair,
  and I say, "God bless your Majesty, my pretty little dear."
  
  I say "I understand my lady, as a long you have single tarried
  To change your situation you, Are going to get married."
  
  "Indeed I am," she said to me, in a sweet and pleasant tone
  De weather is so very cold, I cannot lie alone.
  
  Den I say you are the prettiest girl in all the world I know,
  And I wish wid me you would agree, and marry Jim Crow
  
  I'd make the toast and fiddle, and learn you for to sing,
  And fetech you every noon a tea-cup full of gin
  
  I will wash de clothes and mangle and attend upon de door
  Tie up your shoes and lace your stays, and scrub the kitchen floor
  
  She say Jim Crow it is no use for you here is no room
  Den she game me such a topper with the handle of de broom
  
  I tell you what Jim Crow she said, with the youth I have engaged,
  Prince Albert Young and charming, and but 20 years of age.
  
  God bless her gracious Majesty, she is both young and clever
  Jim Crow pray both night and day dat she may live for ever
  
  Den wheel about and turn about, and sing both high and low,
  God bless the Queen of England, and jump Jim Crow.
  
  

To tune of "Jump Jim Crow" available on midi elsewhere

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jim Crow's Trip to the royal wedding
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 06:46 AM

Prince Albert was born in 1819, so if he was 20 at the time it was written, it would suggest the song dates from 1839. The marriage took place in 1840, which ties in with the verse ending "...going to get married".

Interesting song, never heard of it before.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jim Crow's Trip to the royal wedding
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 01:26 PM

At the time the song was written, c. 1840 according to MS note on the broadsheet, the song would have been neither "sick" nor "weird."

As posted in other threads, American minstrel shows and English copies had long runs in English theatres.

The printed sheet was printed by T. Birt, London, and is Johnson Ballads 96 in the Bodleian Collection.
At the end is printed John Morgan, probably the performer and composer, using the form and style of the original Jim Crow by Thomas Dartmouth (Daddy) Rice (1808-1860), written probably late 1820's and much copied in the 1830's and later.