Pickin' on a Chicken Bone 1900

James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 20 Nov 2004

Eph Green's ambition was to get a position
as de leadin' musician
in de CoonTown Band,
Now he aspired that he might be attired
in dat uniform so gay and grand.
Made application for an examination
as to qualification
an how to play,
next day de leader went
to find out his instrument
and dis is what de darkey had to say:

I can't play no violin,
I can't play no Mandolin,
I can't beat no Tamborine,
Nor plonk on the Xylophone.
I can't blow on no Cornet,
No trombone or Clarinet,
but I can make sweet music you bet,
a pickin' on a chicken bone.

I can't play no violin,
I can't play no Mandolin,
I can't beat no Tamborine,
Nor plonk on the Xylophone.
I can't blow on no Cornet,
No trombone or Clarinet,
but I can make sweet music you bet,
a pickin' on a chicken bone.

Paid his attention to a gal I won't mention,
and it was his intention for to marry soon.
She was a gal you see up in society,
and a very music loving coon.
One night he called and found
ev'ry swell in town
had brought his music down to sing and play,
Poor Eph he lost his gal
at dis swell musical
just because to her he had to say:

I can't play no violin,
I can't play no Mandolin,
I can't beat no Tamborine,
Nor plonk on the Xylophone.
I can't blow on no Cornet,
No trombone or Clarinet,
but I can make sweet music you bet,
a pickin' on a chicken bone.

I can't play no violin,
I can't play no Mandolin,
I can't beat no Tamborine,
Nor plonk on the Xylophone.
I can't blow on no Cornet,
No trombone or Clarinet,
but I can make sweet music you bet,
a pickin' on a chicken bone.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Pickin' on a Chicken Bone 1900
Bob Cole's tremendous hit in "A Trip to Coontown" Co.
Composed by Bob Cole
© MCM by Howley, Haviland & Dresser, N.Y.
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Saturday 20 November 2004 at 15.30
in association with Doug Grierson
*