American Old Time Song Lyrics: 55 Every Nigger Had A Lady But Me

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 55

EVERY NIGGER HAD A LADY BUT ME.
Copyright. 1897, by Wm. B. Gray. England.
Words and Musle by Karl St. Clair.

De coons gave a ball de other night,
De wenches dat attended dey were dressed out of sight;
Eb'ry nigger had on his very best,
Was a puttin' on a lot of lugs and try in' to do de rest,
Sports and gamblers made a great big bluff,
Crooked crap shooters dat were lookin' for de stuff:
Dere wuz many a funny sight to see,
Eb'ry nigger dat was present had a lady but me.

Chorus.
Ev'ry nigger had a lady but me;
Eb'ry nigger had a lady but me;
I stood dere a-glancin' while de others were a-dancin',
And dey all seemed just as happy as could be;
Eb'ry nigger had a lady but me,
Eb'ry nigger had a lady but me,
Not a word to me dey spoke, And my heart it nearly broke,
Eb'ry nigger had a lady but met

Dat night I'll always remember well,
I had my eyes located on a ginger-colored belle:
I wuz captured completely by her charms.
I could feel myself a-waltzin' with dat sweet thing In my arms;
Jes' den some one shouted through de hall.
"Ev'rybody grab a gal and promenade all."
For dat lady den I grabbed right away,
But I nebber knew I missed her 'till de band began to play.

-Chorus.
Along 'bout twelve a great big coon
Got up And said dat supper would be ready very soon;
Eb'ry couple began to fall in line,
'Cause de niggers got a straight tip dat de grub wuz mighty fine;
Coons and wenches, laughin' nebber ceased,
'Till de big procession started down to have de feast;
I wuz ready, but strange it seemed to be,
Eb'ry nigger went to supper with a lady but me.

Chorus.
Eb'ry nigger went to supper but me;
Eb'ry nigger went to supper but me:
I stood dere a-smilin' 'till my blood began a-bilin',
Until I got jes' as mad as I could be;
Eb'ry nigger wuz a-laughin' at me,
'Cause eb'ry nigger had a lady but me,
But when I begun to shoot, all de coons began to scoot,
Den nobody had a lady but me?