Sleepy-Time Rag 1914

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 21 Mar 2008
2008

Down in old Car'lina
where the cotton grows,
where the stars
are peeping from the sky,
in a little cabin
as the night wind blows,
you hear old mammy
sing a lullaby.
Close in her arms
a kinky head lies cradled
on her breast,
while soft and low she sings to him
the song that he loves best.

Don't you cry
my little bit of sugar cane
just as sweet as honey from the bee.
It's time for little pickaninny boy
to be drifting off to slumberland sweet,
look out fo' the ghost of the Goblin' man!
He's gwine to ketch yo' if he can,
jest hide yo' little kinky head,
I'll tuck yo' in your trundle bed,
and sing to you
that sleepy time rag.

Don't you cry
my little bit of sugar cane
just as sweet as honey from the bee.
It's time for little pickaninny boy
to be drifting off to slumberland sweet,
look out fo' the ghost of the Goblin' man!
He's gwine to ketch yo' if he can,
jest hide yo' little kinky head,
I'll tuck yo' in your trundle bed,
and sing to you
that sleepy time rag.

When the sun am shining,
thro' the cabin door,
little pickanninny laughs with glee,
with the morning sunshine
all his fears have flown.
For he is just as happy as can be.
when the shadows deepen
'neath the dear old southern moon,
he cuddles close in mammy's arms
and listens to her croon.

Don't you cry
my little bit of sugar cane
just as sweet as honey from the bee.
It's time for little pickaninny boy
to be drifting off to slumberland sweet,
look out fo' the ghost of the Goblin' man!
He's gwine to ketch yo' if he can,
jest hide yo' little kinky head,
I'll tuck yo' in your trundle bed,
and sing to you
that sleepy time rag.

Don't you cry
my little bit of sugar cane
just as sweet as honey from the bee.
It's time for little pickaninny boy
to be drifting off to slumberland sweet,
look out fo' the ghost of the Goblin' man!
He's gwine to ketch yo' if he can,
jest hide yo' little kinky head,
I'll tuck yo' in your trundle bed,
and sing to you
that sleepy time rag.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Sleepy-Time Rag 1914
Music by Alma Saunders
Lyrics by Florence M.Cooke
© MCMXIV by M.Witmark & Sons
*
sequence by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Friday 21 March 2008 at 10.48
in association with Doug Grierson
*