[178] The men who object to Sambo
Should take his place and fight;
And it's betther to have a nayger's hue
Than a liver that's wake ana white.
Though Sambo's black as the ace of spades,
His finger a thrigger can pull,
And his eye runs sthraight on the barrel-sights
From undher its thatch of wool.
So hear me all, boys darlina,
Don't think I'm tippina you chaff,
The right to be kilt we'll divide wid him,
And give him the largest half!
The year of jubilee
According to common report a body of negro troops sang these words as they entered Richmond on the morning of April 3, 1865. George Cary Eggleston adds a special interest to the song:it is an interesting fact, illustrative of the elasticity of spirit shown by the losers in the great contest, that the song, which might have been supposed to be peculiarly offensive to their wounded pride and completely out of harmony with their deep depression and chagrin, became at once a favorite among them, and was sung with applause by young men and maidens in well nigh every house in Virginia.
Say, darkeys, hab you seen de massa,
Wid de muffstash on he face,
Go long de road some time dis mornina,
Like he gwine leabe de place?
He see de smoke way up de ribber
Whar de Lincum gunboats lay;
He took he hat ana leff berry sudden,
And I spose he's runned away.
De massa run, ha, ha!
De darkey stay, ho, ho!
It mus' be now de kingdum comina,
Ana de yar ob jubilo.