Ginger Blue

For information on this song as part of the blackface minstrel tradition, please see
its page in The Juba Project's Minstrelsy Database.

For an alternate interpretation of this song, see Minstrels in the Parlour -- another item in this project's 'Artists Respond to Juba' section.

Credits

Andrew Dale, lead vocals; Tom Power, banjo; Kate Bevan-Baker, fiddle; Mark Turner, tambourine; Justin Merdsoy, sound technician.

Lyrics

Him name am Ginger Blue, an I’ll sing you facs a few
I am slick from de ole Torr riber,
My brography am clear, an de circumstances new.
As all who hab not heard ob his will diskiber.
Well den one ting dat I say, When my youthful tongue gib way,
To all de poor hard workin Niggers,

Once Rosa Anna Lee, was out fetchin ob a walk,
An de blanets in de sky war burnin;
Said she ‘Ginger Blue, what de matter wid you?’
While her eyes on mine war turning.
At dat sentiment I feel like a Niagara eel,
And my heart for her hand did perspire_
“Walk chalk Ginger Blue, right ober double trouble,
Ole Wirginny neber tire.”

Den I went an tole her Fader, who de most purlitely said,
“You’d better not be tinkin ob Miss Rosa,
For she hab got a knack ob hittin ob de hand,
An pullin ob her true lubbers nose, sar,”
At de mention odd at hint, I did not stop to tink,
Went an saw wot he did not admire_
 “Walk chalk Ginger Blue, right ober double trouble,
Ole Wirginny neber tire.”

In a boat dat war a gwoin, I cut to New Orleans,
Out ob de way ob some Niggers; _
Soon as I had landed, twar de sweetest ob all scenes,
Jis to look upon de Gals lubly fingers!
I took off my hat and pointed out my heel,
Jis as de Gals began to admire_
“Walk chalk Ginger Blue, right ober double trouble,
Ole Wirginny neber tire.”

Publication Information

Publisher: “The Encyclopedia of Music No. 121: A Selection of the Most Popular Ethiopian Songs.” B. Williams, H, Paternoster Row & 170 Gt. Dovor Rd. London