Historic Sheet Music Collection

Document Type

Score

Publication Date

1901

Comments

Some Little Songs of Color
By Carrie Jacobs-Bond
Happy Lil Sal, Trouble} 50 cents
Published at the Bond shop by Carrie Jacobs-Bond & Son incorporated
746 So. Michigan Ave. Chicago

Some of these resources may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials should be seen in the context of the time period and as a reflection of the attitudes of the time. The items are part of the historical record, and do not represent the views of the libraries or the institution.

Lyrics

Happy Li’l Sal

Dar’s a lettle colored gal
An’dey calls her Happy Sal,
Case she sings and laughs fum mornin’ until night;
But no wonder she’s gay,
She ain’t got no time to play,
Fer she got work an’ scrub’ith all her might.
Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal,
She’s the bestest, she’s the blackest lil colored gal;
Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal,
Case she’s got to work an’ scrub’ith all her might.

Yas, she gits up wif de sun
An’ den her work’s begun,
Fust, she got ter cook de breakfas’ fer her Pa;
Den dar’s lettle Joe an’ Bess
Dat she have to wash an’ dress,
Den she’s got to wash de dishes fer her Ma.
Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal,
She’s the bestest, she’s the blackest lil gal;
Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal,
Case she’s got to wash de dishes fer her Ma.

So it’s wash an’ iron an’ bake
Some bread or pie an’ cake,
An’ make de beds an’ put tings on de shelf.
Does yo’ wonder dat she’s glad,
An’ ain’t never feelin’ sad?
She ain’t got no time to bother’bout herself.
Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal,
She’s the bestest, she’s the blackest lil colored gal;
Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal,
She ain’t got time to bother’bout herself.

To my son Trouble

Honey, ef you looks fo’ trouble,
You can fin’ him sho’!
Ef you looks, you’ll fin’ him double,
Sneakin’ roun’ yo’ do’!
He’s so glad to hab yo know him,
Up he’ll hang his hat,
Stay fereber, ‘less you show him
You’ll hab none o’ dat!

Now I gwine to tell you sutten (Larnt it ye’rs ago),
Ef you drap yo’ winnow cutten,
An’ shut tight yo’ do’,
He sune tire o’ payin’ ‘tention
Whar he am despised!
He’s just trouble y’ear me mention?
When he’s reconized!

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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.