American Old Time Song Lyrics: 47 Sam And Der Shark

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 47

SAM AND DER SHARK.
Copyright, 1895, by A. Scull & Co.
Words and Music by Wm. H. Friday, Jr.

Dere was once a lot ob colored folks gwine to de promised land;
Dey got on board a schooner, wid a swell, brass nigger band;
Dey sailed upon de waters rough, exceptin' one big coon,
Who said, I'se gwine to swim, I is, I'll git dar just as soon,
Den he dove in and started out, de day was mild and fair;
A mighty swimmer, 'deed he was, wid lots ob breff to spare;
He kept a-goin' wid de boat, de niggers dey did yell;
'Twas such a sight to see dat coon a-keepin' up so well.

Chorus.
Whoh! Sam, bet yer can't a do it! Whoh! Sam, bet yer can't a do it!
Whoh! Sam, bet yer can't a do it. now you'd better git on board;
Whoh! Sam, bet yer can't a do it! Whoh! Sam, last yer can't a do it!
Whoh! Sam, bet yer can't a do it, all dem pickaninnies roared.

Now Sam kept right 'long beside dat boat, as bappy as could be;
He swam for lots ob miles, he did, 'till he got out to sea;
Den looked around and saw a shark, dat poor man he done shake;
And yelled, oh, bred'ren pull me up, he'll eat me like a cake;
He spied ahead de promised land, what made dat nigger quail;
Dar was a lion on dat shore, a-shakin' of his tail;
Just den dat lion made a spring, let out a fearful roar;
He jumped clear past dat nigger's head into der shark's big jaw.- Chorus.

At last dey reached de promised land, as in dey sail from sea;
Old Peter at de gate dey saw, wid heart so fall ob glee;
He greeted dem so kindly and he shook dem by de band,
Just den a mighty storm arose, and shook de solid land;
De thunder roared, der lightning flashed, der coons were filled wid fright;
And Sam, wid just one mighty jump, on Peter's back he light; |
He grabbed him by de ha'r, he did, der keys from him he tore;
Den went inside and locked de gate, oh, how dem niggers swore.- Chorus.