List of blackface minstrel songs

This is a list of songs that either originated in blackface minstrelsy or are otherwise closely associated with that tradition. Songwriters and publication dates are given where known.

A

• "Abraham Lincoln Jones", Cecil Mack and Chris Smith (1909)
• "Alabama Joe" (a.k.a. "Shall Trelawney Die") (before 1855)
• "Angelina Baker" (1850)
• "The Arkansas Traveler" (c. 1862)

B

• "Babylon Is Fallen", Henry Clay Work (1863)
• "Back Side of Albany"
• "The Band of Niggers! From 'Ole Virginny State'" (1844)
• "The Bee-Gum", G. Willig (1833)
• "Billy Patterson", Dan Emmett (1860)
• "The Black Brigade", Dan Emmett (1863)
• "Blue Tail Fly" (a.k.a. "Jimmy Crack Corn") c. 1846
• "The Boatman's Dance", credited to Dan Emmett (1843) (Emmett, Boston, 1840s or 1842) (Nathan 131–2, 186, 191, 193, 320–3)
• "Bonja Song" (c. 1820)
• "Bowery Gals" (a.k.a. "As I Was Lumbering")
• "Bress Dat Lubly Yaller Gal"
• "Briggs' Breakdown", Z. Bacchus
• "Buckley's Sleighing Song", A. Sedgwick (1853)

C

• "Camptown Races", Stephen Foster, (1850)
• "Can't Yo' Heah Me Callin' Caroline", Caro Roma (1914)
• "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" James A. Bland, (1878)
• "Charleston Gals" (1844)
• "Ching a Ring Chaw"
• "Claire de Kitchen", performed as early as 1832 by T. D. Rice and George Washington Dixon
• "Clar de Track", 1840s.
• "Clem Titus' Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Coal Black Rose" (c. 1829)
• "The Colored Croquette", James Lord Pierpont (1853)
• "Come Back Stephen"/"Come Back Steben"
• "Cornfield Green"
• "Cynthia Sue"

D

• "Dandy Broadway Swell", (1849)
• "Dandy Jim from Caroline" (and variants), Dan Emmett (c. 1844)
• "Dar He Goes! Dats Him!", Dan Emmett (1844)
• "Dere Be Any Malted Licker Here?"
• "Darkey Money Musk" (a.k.a. "Money Must", "Holyrood or Moneymusk", "Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk's Reel"), Daniel Dow (1780)
• "Darkies' Pastime"
• "Darktown Strutters' Ball, Shelton Brooks (1917)
• "Dearest May"
• "Dick Myers' Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Dinah's Wedding Day"
• "Division Street Jig", Z. Bacchus
• "Dixie" (a.k.a. "Dixie's Land", "I Wish I Was in Dixie"), Dan Emmett contested, 1859
• "Do Fare You Well Ladies" (1840s)
• "Do I Do I Don't Do Nothing" (1825)
• "Don't bet your money on de Shanghai", Stephen Foster (1861)
• "Dr. Hekok Jig", Z. Bacchus, published by Dan Emmett(Nathan 200, 203, 208, 486–7)

E

• "Eelam Moore Jig", Dan Emmett (before 1854)
• "Effects of the Brogue", (a.k.a. "Tatter Jack") Dan Emmett (by 1861)
• "The Entertainer, Scott Joplin (1902)

F

• "Far [Fare] You Well Ladies"
• "Farewell My Lilly Dear", Stephen Foster (1851)
• "The Fine Old Color'd Gentleman", Dan Emmett (1843)
• "De Floating Scow Quickstep" (a.k.a. "Oh Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"*), E. Ferrett (1847)
• "Forty Hosses in de Stable", J. Kierman (1840s)
• "The Free Nigger", sung by R. W. Pelham (1841)

G

• "Gantz's Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Genuine Negro Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Gentle Annie", Stephen Foster (1856)
• "Geraldine", James Lord Pierpont (1854)
• "Gentle Nettie Moore/The Little White Cottage", James Lord Pierpont (1857)
• "Get along Home, Cindy", possibly developed from a minstrel tune "Cindy Lou"
• The Glendy Burk, Stephen Foster (1860)
• "Ginger Blue" (1841)
• "Grape Vine Twist"
• "Gonna Eat Ma Chicken 'Til I'm Fried"
• "Gray Goose and Gander"
• "Guinea Maid"
• "Gumbo Chaff" (a.k.a. "Gombo Chaff"), early 1830s
• "Gwine to de Mill", Jay R. Jenkins (1846)

H

• Hand Me Down My Walking Cane, James A. Bland (1880)
• "Happy Are We Darkies So Gay"
• "Hard Times", Tom Briggs (1855)
• "Hell on the Wabash Jig"
• "High Daddy", Dan Emmett (1863)
• "Hop Light, Loo", Dan Emmett (before 1854)
• "Hot Corn"

I

• "I Ain't Got Time to Tarry" (a.k.a. "The Land of Freedom"), Dan Emmett (1858)
• "I'm Going Home to Dixie", Dan Emmett (1861)
• "I'm Gwine ober de Mountain", Dan Emmett (1843)
• "I Saw the Beam in My Sister's Eye"
• "If Money Talks, It Ain't On Speaking Terms With Me", J. Fred Helf (1902)
• "Ireland and Virginia"

J

• "Jack on the Green", Dan Emmett
• "James Crow", Sam Carusi (1832)
• "Jenny Get Your Hoe Cake Done", popularized by Joel Sweeney (1840)
• "Jim Along Josey", credited to "an Eminent professor" and performed by John N. Smith (1840)
• "Jim Brown" (1835)
• "Johnny Boker or De Broken Yoke in de Coaling Ground" (1840)
• "Johnny Roach", Dan Emmett (1859)
• "Jolly Raftsman"
• "Jordan Is a Hard Road to Travel", Dan Emmett (1853)
• "The Jolly Raftsman"
• "Juba"
• "Juber" (1840s)
• "Jumbo Jum" (1840)
• "Jump Jim Crow", (c. 1823, popularized by T.D. Rice in 1828)
• "Just Because She Made Dem Goo-Goo Eyes", Hughie Cannon (1900)

K

• "Kingdom Coming" (a.k.a. "Year of Jubilo"), Henry Clay Work (1862)
• "Kitty Crow", James Lord Pierpont (1853)

L

• "Land of Canaan", played by J. Simmons (before 1860)
• "A Life by the Galley Fire"
• "De Long Island Nigger", Emma Snow (?) (c. 1848)
• "Long Time Ago", John Cole (1833)
• "Loozyanna Low Grounds", Dan Emmett (1859)
• “Lucy Long” (see http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/minstrel/lucylongfr.html)
• "Lucy Neal"/"Lucy Neale" J. P. Carter (1844)
• "Lynchburg Town"

M

• "Marty Inglehart Jig", Dan Emmett (1845)
• "Mary Blane" (a.k.a. "Mary Blain"), Billy Whitlock (1846)
• "Massa Is a Stingy Man" (1841)
• "Merry Sleigh Bells"
• "The Merry Sleigh Ride, Valentine Dister (1852)
• "Mighty Lak' a Rose", Ethelbert Nevin (1901)
• "Miss Lucy Long" (a.k.a. "Lucy Long", "Miss Lucy Song"), Dan Emmett and Frank Brower (1844), or Billy Whitlock (1842) or possibly Billy Whitlock (1838)
• "Moze Haymar Jig", Dan Emmett (1845)
• "My Old Kentucky Home", Stephen Foster (1853)
• "My First Jig", Dan Emmett (c. 1840s)
• "My Long Tail Blue" (1830s)
• "My Old Aunt Sally" (1843)
• "My Old Dad"/"Old Dad" (1844)

N

• "Negro Jig", Dan Emmett (1845)
• "Nelly Was a Lady", Stephen Foster (1849)
• "New York Gals", Emma Snow?
• "The Newton Jig", James Buckley (1860)
• "Nigga General"
• "Nigger on de Wood Pile", Dan Emmett (1845)

O

• "(O Lud Gals) Gib Me [Us] Chaw Terbakur", words by Dan Emmett (1843)
• "Oh, Come along John" a.k.a. "Walk along John" (1843)
• "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers, James A. Bland (1879)
• "Oh, Ladies All!", Dan Emmett (published 1858, probably written in the 1840s)
• "Oh Lemuel", Stephen Foster (1850)
• "Oh! Susanna", Stephen Foster (1847)
• "Old Aunt Jemima, Billy Kersands (1875)
• "Old Black Joe, Stephen Foster (1860)
• "Old Bob Ridley", Charles White (1855)
• "Old Dan Tucker", words by Dan Emmett (1843)
• "Old Folks at Home", Stephen Foster (1851)
• "Old Joe", F. M. Brower (1844)
• "Old Joe Golden"
• "Old Johnny Boker"
• "Old King Crow"
• "Old K. Y. Ky.", Dan Emmett (1860)
• "Old Tar River"/Ole Tare River" (1840)
• "Old Uncle Ned", Stephen Foster (1848)
• "Ole Bull and Old Dan Tucker" (1844)
• "The Ole Grey Goose" (1844)
• "De Ole Jawbone" (and variants), perhaps Joel Sweeney (1840)
• "Ole Pee Dee", J. P. Carter (1844)
• "Ole Virginny Break Down" (1841)
• "The One Horse Open Sleigh", (a.k.a. "Jingle Bells") James Lord Pierpont (1857)
• "Joe Sweeney's Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Owl Creek Quickstep", Dan Emmett

P

• "Pea Patch Jig", Dan Emmett
• "Peel's Jig"
• "Peter Story Jig", Dan Emmett
• "Philadelphia Gals"
• "Philisee Charcoal"
• "Picayune Butler (Ahoo! Ahoo!)"
• "Picayune Butler's Come to Town" (before 1847)
• "Polly Wolly Doodle", credited to Dan Emmett, (1843/1878/1880)
• "Poor Elsie", James Lord Pierpont (1854)
• "Poor Uncle Tom", A. Sedgwick (1852)
• "Possum up the Gum-Tree"

Q

• "Quaker's Jig", R. Myers

R

• "Ring, Ring de Banjo", Stephen Foster (1851)
• "Ring the Bell, Fanny", James Lord Pierpont (1854)
• "Rise Old Napper"
• "Road to Richmond", Dan Emmett (1864)
• "Rob Ridley", Charles White (1855)
• "Rock Susana", Horace Weston (1887)
• "Roll Out! Heave Dat Cotton", William Shakespeare Hays (1877)
• "Root, Hog or Die", Dan Emmett (c. late 1840s or early 1850s)
• "Rosa Lee"

S

• "Sad to Leave Our Tater Land" (early 1850s)
• "Sam Johnson's Colored Cake Walk", Dave Braham (1883)
• "Sandy Boy", possibly Phil Rice (before 1858)
• "Sandy Gibson's", Dan Emmett (1859)
• "Seely Simpkins Jig", Dan Emmett
• "Settin' on a Rail" (1836)
• "Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me" (1869)
• "Sich a Gettin' Up Stairs" (c. 1834)
• "Singing Darkey of the Ohio"
• "Skeeters Do Bite"
• "Sliding Jenny Jig", R. Myers
• "Someone in de House wif Dinah", possibly Phil Rice (before 1858)
• "Stop Dat Knocking", A. F. Winnemore (1847)
• "Sugar Cane Green"
• "Sugar in a Gourd"
• "Suke of Tennessee"
• "Susey Brown"/"Suzy Brown"
• "Sweep Oh!"

T

• "Tell Me Josey Whar You Bin" (1840)
• "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight, Theodore A. Metz (1896)
• "To the Cornfields Away"
• "Tom Brigg's Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Turkey in the Straw", developed from Zip Coon (1861)
• "Twelfth Street Rag", Euday L. Bowman (1898/1914/1919)
• "Twill Nebber Do to Gib It up So", Dan Emmett (1843)

U

• "Uncle Gabriel" (1848)

V

• "Van Bramer's Jig", published by Dan Emmett
• "Virginia's Lubly Ground"

W

• "Walk Along John" (1843)
• "Walk Jaw Bone" (c. 1840)
• "Walking for dat Cake", Dave Braham (1877)
• "Wait for the Wagon", Geo P. Knauff (1851)
• "Westchester Nigga Song"
• "Whar Did You Come From?" (subtitled "Knock a Nigger Down"), performed by Joel Sweeney (1840)
• "Whar Is de Spot We Were Born?"
• "What O' Dat", Dan Emmett (1859)
• "Whoop Jamboree Jig"
• "Who's Dat Knocking"
• "Who's Dat Nigga Dar a Peepin" (1844)
• "Wide Awake" a.k.a. "Dar's a Darkey in de Tent", Dan Emmett (early 1859)
• "[In de/In the] Wild Raccoon Track"
• "De Wild Goose-Nation", Dan Emmett (1844)
• "(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey", Hughie Cannon (1902)

Y

• "Yellow Corn"

Z

• "Zip Coon" (a.k.a. "Old Zip Coon"), performed by George Washington Dixon (1829? 1835?)

Notes

References

• Abel, E. Lawrence (2000). Singing the New Nation: How Music Shaped the Confederacy, 1861-1865. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books.
• Cockrell, Dale (1997). Demons of Disorder: Early Blackface Minstrels and Their World. Cambridge University Press.
• Lott, Eric (1993). Love and Theft: Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509641-X.
• Mahar, William J. (1999). Behind the Burnt Cork Mask: Early Blackface Minstrelsy and Antebellum American Popular Culture. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
• Nathan, Hans (1962). Dan Emmett and the Rise of Early Negro Minstrelsy. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
• Sacks, Howard L. and Sacks, Judith Rose (1993). Way up North in Dixie: A Black Family's Claim to the Confederate Anthem. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.
• Winans, Robert B. (1985). Liner notes to The Early Minstrel Show. New York: Recorded Anthology of American Music, Inc.

See also

• Hokum
• Coon song
• Minstrel show