American Old Time Song Lyrics: 09 I'm Off For Charleston

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 9

I'M OFF FOR CHARLESTON.

My massa and my missus, dey both am gone away.
Dry gone to de Sulphur Springs, de Summer mouths to stay;
And while dey'r off togeder, on dis little kind ob spree,
I'll go down to Charleston, de pretty girls to see.

Chorus.
I'm off for Charleston early in de morning,
I'm off for Charlestou, a little while to stay,
Give my respects to every pretty yaller gal,
I'm off for Charlestou before de broke ob day.

My Nelly waved her handkerchief, when she seed me go
Floating down de libber wid de old banjo;
As I stood and gazed upon her, I wiped away a tear,
And de last word I sed to her was: Far you well, my dear.
I'm off for Charleston early in de morning, &c.

It begiu to rain a little, de night was very dark,
And when my Nelly said, good-bye, de dogs begin to bark;
De dog he scar't de buzzard, de buzzard scar't de coon,
Dey all made a nigger run till next day noon.
I'm off for Charleston early in de morning, &c.

De coon begin to tire, de dog, he tire too,
De nigger, he got tireder, And he didn't know what to do;
De buzzard kept a flying, till de chic-kens gin to crow,
Den he came down to hear me play de old banjo.
I'm off for Charlestou early in de morning, &c.

Charleston is a pretty place, de gals, dey kiss so sweet,
Dey am so slender 'bout de waist, and dress so berry neat;
But I'd radder kiss my Nell, dan all de gals I eber see,
Kase her breff is like an orange-blossom hanging on a tree.
I'm off for Charleston early in de morning, &c.