The Real Thing 1898

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 17 Mar 2007
2007

There is a colored individual
that promenades the avenue
'tis rumoured round the colored folks
that he's the hottest out
You bet your life he cuts a dash
he's nothing else but ready cash
but where he gets his money now
they haven't yet found out.
To win this coal black Valentine
they say he's worth a Klondyke mine
the gals they all go crazy
and they at him blankly stare,
but he only tips his hat to say
I'll be with you gals some other day
while to himself as he walks along
he calmly hums this air.

Well I'm the only real thing
that you'll find in this here town.
I've made my reputation
and I do them all up brown
My color may be black as coal
but I make these niggers hunt their hole
for I'm the only real thing in the town.

I'm the only real thing
that you'll find in this here town.
I've made my reputation
and I do them all up brown
My color may be black as coal
but I make these niggers hunt their hole
for I'm the only real thing in the town.

Well he went down to a cakewalk
just a week ago tonight
and all the colored population
they were dressed up out of sight
and when the band began to play
then you could hear those dusky wenches say
why he's the hottest thing we've seen
upon the floor tonight.
Then all them coons got very sore
said they, we'll throw him out the door
but he got up and slashed
about a dozen coons they say.
It was then the Parson did appear
and he thought it time to interfere
says he, coon your odds are strong
so we will have to let you stay.

Well I'm the only real thing
that you'll find in this here town.
I've made my reputation
and I do them all up brown
My color may be black as coal
but I make these niggers hunt their hole
for I'm the only real thing in the town.

I'm the only real thing
that you'll find in this here town.
I've made my reputation
and I do them all up brown
My color may be black as coal
but I make these niggers hunt their hole
for I'm the only real thing in the town.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
The Real Thing 1898
described on the score as:
"The very latest in Coon Songs by the popular
'Rag Time' Delineators...."
Music by Jake Schaeffer
Lyrics by Frank C.Coulter
© 1898 by Ilsen & Co.
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Saturday 17 March 2007 at 5.48pm
in association with Doug Grierson
*