Little Black Baby

Little Black Baby
Words by Louise Armstrong Bristol, Music by Scott Joplin

This text is presented in the dialect it was written in by Mrs. Bristol, and
is included for historical context only, with no intent of offending anybody.

Verse 1: Little black baby on de sheepskin,
Little black mammy by its side.
What says dis little black baby,
To little black mammy by its side?
Goo-goo-goo-e, goo-garee goo;
Tra-ta-la-ra-ba-ma-oo;
Tra-ta-la-raess scaree-ee;
Gree goo ta-ma-la-ra-mee.

Chorus 1: Little black mammy on de milkstool,
Little black baby by her side;
What says dis little black mammy,
To little black baby by her side,
Bye, O bye, O baby buntin';
How de little eyes do twinkle,
How de twinkle eyes do shine.

Verse 2: All de gold in all de ma-ountain,
All de diamon's in de worl',
Couldn't buy from dis ole mammy,
Her own dear little black baby girl.
Bye, O Bye, O baby buntin';
Bye, O Bye, O baby mine;
How de little eyes do twinkle,
How de twinkle eyes do shine.

Chorus 2: Little black baby on de sheepskin,
Little black mammy by its side;
What says dis little black baby,
To little black mammy by its side,
Goo-goo-goo-e, goo-garee goo;
Tra-ta-la-ra-ba-ma-oo;
Tra-ta-la-raess scaree-ee;
Gree goo ta-ma-la-ra-mee.

Little Black Baby — Performed by Bill Edwards