[Verse 1]
I heard a pickaninny cryingDown in Tennessee one night,His little heart was nearly breakingJust because he wasn’t white;Then his dear old mammy kiss’d him,And she said “Chile don’ you sighWeep no more my baby”,Then she sang a Dixie Lullaby:
[Chorus]
You better dry your eyes, my little Coal Black Rose,You better go to sleep and let those eyelids close,‘Cause you’re dark, don’t start apinin’,You’re a cloud with a silver lining,Tho’ ev’ry old crow thinks his babe am white as snow,Your dear old mammy knows you’re mighty like a rose,And when the angels gave those kinky curls to you,They put a sunbeam in your disposition too, that’s true,The reason you’re so black I ‘sposeThey forgot to give your Mammy a talcum powder chamois,So don’t you cry, don’t you sigh,‘Cause you’re mammy’s little Coal Black Rose.You better Rose.
[Verse 2]
And then I saw that dear old MammyKiss those baby tears awayWhile in her arms the baby nestledHappy as a child at play;Then she whisper’d “Mammy loves you,You’re as sweet as ‘possum pie’,Go to sleep my honey,While your mammy sings a Lullaby: “
[Chorus
