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[This was one of the most frequently performed of all minstrel songs, though
its author is not known. In the recording, the Canebrake Minstrels follow the
stage convention of introducing dialogue into the song; their words here are
from an excerpt cited by Hans Nathan and attributed to Dan Emmett and Frank
Brower.*] Philadelphia: G. Willig, c.1842 I jist come out afore you, To sing a little song, I plays it on the banjo, And dey calls it Lucy Long. CHORUS: Oh take your time Miss Lucy, Take your time Miss Lucy Long. Oh take your time Miss Lucy Take your time Miss Lucy Long. Miss Lucy she is handsome, And Miss Lucy she is tall, To see her dance Cachucha Is death to niggers all. Oh! Miss Lucy's teeth is grinning Just like an ear ob corn, And her eyes dey look so winning! Oh would I'd ne'er been born. I axed her for to marry Myself de toder day, She said she'd rather tarry So I let her habe her way. Pray &c. If she makes a scolding wife As sure as she was born I'll tote her down to Georgia And trade her off for Corn. |
 ARTISTS: THE CANEBRAKE MINSTRELS FIDDLE: "Justin Case"; BANJO: "Amos Nandy"; FLUTE & LEAD VOCALS: "Juba Lee"; BONES: "Williub Weaber"; TAMBOURINE: "Moses Linkum."  © 2004 THE CANEBRAKE MINSTRELS, All rights reserved. Adam Soroka Digital Media Center, Clemons Library |