The+Minstrel+Theatre+Resources

//"De Boatman's Dance" by Daniel Emmett 1843//
De Boatman Dance (Daniel Decatur Emmett)

De boatman dance, de boatman sing, de boatman up to eb'rything. And when de boatman get on shore, he spends his cash and works for more.

cho: Dance, de boatman dance! O dance, de boatman dance. O dance all night till broad daylight And go home wid de gals in de morning. Hi ho de boatman row, Floatin' down de ribber on de Ohio! Hi ho, de boat man row, up an' down de ribber on de Ohio!.

De boatman is athrifty man Da is none can do as de boatman can ; I neber see a pretty girl in all my life But dat she be some boatman's wife.

De oyster boat should keep to de shore, De fishin' smack should venture more. De schooner sails before de wind, De steamboat leaves a streak behind.

I went on board de odder day To see what de boatman had to say; An dar I let my passion loose An' dey cram me in de calaboose.

I've come dis time, I'll come no more, Let me loose, I'll go ashore; For dey whole hoss, an' dey a bully crew Wid a hoosier mate an' a captain too.

When you go to de boatman's ball, Dance wid my wife or not at all; Sky-blue jacket an' tarpaulin hat, Look out, my boys, for de nine tail cat.

When de boatman blows his horn, Look out, old man, your hog is gone; He steal my sheep, he cotch my shoat, Den put 'em in bag and tote 'em to boat.

Stephen Foster's "Uncle Ned"
Dere was an old darkey, dey called him Uncle Ned, He's dead long ago, long ago! He had no wool on de top ob his head, De place whar de wool ought to grow.

Chorus: Den lay down de shubble and de hoe Hang up de fiddle and de bow: |: No more hard work for pool old Ned He's gone whar de good darkeys go. :| 2. His fingers were long like de can in de brake, He had no eyes for to see; He had no teeth for to eat de corncake So he had to let de corncake be. Chorus:

3. When Old Ned die Massa take it mighty bad, De tears run down like de rain; Old Missus turn pale and she gets berry sad Cayse she nebber see Old Ned again. Chorus:

Stephen Foster's "Lucy Neal"
"Lucy Neal" (1844) Solo & Chorus Sung by the Ethiopian Serenaders Words and Music by James Sanford

London: Musical Bouquet, No. 82, pages 133-135 [Source: 017/130@Levy]

1. I liv'd in Alabama My Massa's name was Beal He us'd to own a yaller gal Her name was Lucy Neal, She us'd to go out wid us To pick cotton in the fiel' And dere's whar first I fell in lub Wid my sweet Lucy Neal.

Oh poor Lucy Neal; Oh poor Lucy Neal; If I had you by my side How happy I should feel.

CHORUS Oh poor Lucy Neal, Oh poor Lucy Neal, If I had you by my side How happy I should feel.

2. One night de Niggers gabe a ball; Miss Lucy danc'd a reel, And all declared no darkee dare Could dance like Lucy Neal After dat my Massa sell me, Because he thought I'd steal, Which caused a separation Ob myself and Lucy Neal.

Oh poor Lucy Neal; Oh poor Lucy Neal; If I had you by my side How happy I should feel.

(CHORUS)

3. Poor Lucy she was taken ill, How bad it made me feel, -- De Docter he did gib he up, Alas poor Lucy Neal! One day I got a letter, And jet black was the seal; It was to tell me she was dead My poor Miss Lucy Neal.

Oh poor Lucy Neal; Oh poor Lucy Neal; If I had you by my side How happy I should feel.

(CHORUS)

4. Dey bore her from my bosom, But de wound dy cannot heal; And my heart is breaking, For I lub'd sweet Lucy Neal. Oh yes and when I'm dying, And dark visions round me steal, De last low murmur of dis life Shall be sweet Lucy Neal.

Oh poor Lucy Neal; Oh poor Lucy Neal; If I had you by my side How happy I should feel.

(CHORUS)

=
================== [from pages 155-156 from "Minstrel Songs, Old and New" (1883]

1. I'se born in Alabama, My master's name was Neal, He us'd to own a yaller gal, Her name was Lucy Neal.

CHORUS O, poor Miss Lucy Neal! If once I had her in my arms, How happy I should feel.

2. She us'd to go out wid me, And pick cotton in de field; And dar is whar I fell in love, Wid pretty Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

3. Miss Lucy she was handsome, From de head down to de heel; And all de niggers fell in love, Wid pretty Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

4. De Niggers gave a hail, Miss Lucy danced a reel; And no one could at all compare, Wid pretty Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

5.

I ask'd her would she have me, How glad she made me feel; For then she gave to me her heart, Sweet, simple Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

6. My massa he did sell me, Because he'd said I'd steal; And that's de way he parted Poor me and Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

7. Miss Lucy she was taken sick, And mourn'd for me a deal; The docter he did give her up, Alas! poor Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

8. One day I got a letter, And jet black was de seal; And dere de words did tell me, Ob de death of Lucy Neal.

(CHORUS)

Stephen Foster's "Nelly was a Lady"
Down on de Mississippi floating, Long time I trabble on de way, All night de cottonwood a toting, Sing for my true lub all de day.

Nelly was a lady, Last night she died, Toll de bell for lubly Nell, My dark Virginny bride.

Now I'm unhappy, and I'm weeping, Can't tote de cottonwood no more; Last night, while Nelly was a sleeping, Death came a knockin' at de door.

Nelly was a lady, Last night she died, Toll de bell for lubly Nell, My dark Virginny bride.

When I saw my Nelly in de morning, Smile till she open'd up her eyes, Seem'd like de light ob day a dawning, Jist 'fore de sun begin to rise.

Nelly was a lady, Last night she died, Toll de bell for lubly Nell, My dark Virginny bride.

Close by de margin ob de water, Whar de lone weeping willow grows, Dar lib'd Virginny's lubly daughter; Dar she in death may find repose.

Nelly was a lady, Last night she died, Toll de bell for lubly Nell, My dark Virginny bride.

Down in de meadow, 'mong de clober, Walk wid my Nelly by my side; Now all dem happy days am ober, Farewell, my dark Virginny bride.

Nelly was a lady, Last night she died, Toll de bell for lubly Nell, My dark Virginny bride.