Who Dat Knockin at de Door?
(Alternately: Who's Dat a Knockin' at de Door?)

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

Credits

Art Babayants, piano; Alison Jutzi, vocals; Dennis Patrick, sound technician.

Image c. British Library, all rights reserved. Further reproduction is prohibited

Lyrics

Verse 1
Here I am jis cum for to hab a bit ob fun,
An I rader like de ladies wot I startle like a gun.
I go to deir street door find dey all war fas asleep,
‘Cept de lady ad de windo cum to peep.

“Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Am dat you Jim?” No it am Joe
Well youm not good lookin so you’d better go.
So dere am no use knockin at de door, not no more,
It am no use knockin at de door.

Verse 2
“Ah who dat knockin at de door?
Kickin up a mus and a noisy roar?
I shall de jug ob water tro
All on your head as you knock below.”

Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Am dat you Jim? “No it am Lear”
Well youm face am dirty so you can’t cum here
So dere am no use knockin at de door, not no more.
It am no use knockin at de door.

Image c. British Library, all rights reserved. Further reproduction is prohibited

Verse 3
Den she jis slip de bolt an she says to me,
“You’m so black in de dark dat I cannot see,”
Go for a light all in a crack,
And den fetch anodder ’case I war so black.

“Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Am dat you Bill?” “No, it am Dick,”
Well you aint too lubly, an so cut youm stick.
So dere am no use knockin at de door, not no more,
It am no use knockin at de door.

Verse 4
She took me by de ear an turn me roun an roun,
Gib me sick a gentle knock, it make my jaw bone soun
An I neber shall forget how loud I roar,
‘Dere am some one else a’ knockin at de door.’

“Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Ah who dat knocking at de door?
Am dat you Fred?” “No it am John,”
Well your legs are bandy an so walk chalk along.
So dere am no use knockin at de door, not no more,
It am no use knockin at de door.

Publication Information

Published by B. Williams, II. Paternoster Row, & 170 Gt. Dovor Rd., London.

British Library Shelf Number: H.2342