Lyr Add: Rosa Lee (Minstrel)

Subject: Lyr Add: Rosa Lee (Minstrel)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 01:32 PM

Lyr. Add: ROSA LEE
(or- Don't Be Foolish, Joe), 1847

When I lib'd in Tennessee,
U li a li o la e,
I went courtin' Rosa Lee,
U li a li la e,
Eyes as dark as winter night,
Lips as red as berry bright,
When first I did her wooing go.
She said, now don't be foolish Joe!

Chorus-
U li a li o la e.
Courtin' down in Tennessee,
U li a li o la e,
'Neath the wild banana tree.

2
I said you lubby Gal dats plain,
U li a li o la e,
Breff as sweet as sugar cane,
U li a li o la e,
Feet so large and comely too,
Might make a cradle ob each shoe,
Rosa take me for your beau,
She said now don't be foolish, Joe!

Chorus-
U li a li o la e
Courtin' down in Tennesee
U li a li o la e
'Neath de wild Banana tree.

3
My story yet is to be told,
U li a li o la e
Rosa cotch'd a shocking cold,
U li a li o la e
Send de Doctor, fetch de Nurse,
Doctor came but make her worse,
I tried to make her laugh but No-
She said, now don't be foolish Joe.

Chorus-

4
Dey give her up no power could save,
U li a li o la e
She ax me follow to her grave,
U li a li o la e
I take her hand 'twas cold as death,
So cold I hardly draw my breff,
She saw my tears in sorrow flow,
And said farewell my dearest Joe.

Chorus-

Several copies of the sheet music; much "borrowing." Mostly nd.
Also song sheet, H. De Marsan, and included in "The Most Popular Plantation Songs," 1911, Hinds, Noble & Eldredge, NYC.

This song is mentioned in "Yellow Rose of Texas."