Lyrics:
First verse
I heard a pickaninny crying Down in Tennessee one night, His little heart was nearly breaking Just because he wasn't white; Then his dear old Mammy kiss'd him, And she said ""Chile don't you sigh Weep no more my baby,"" Then she sang a Dixie Lullaby:
Chorus
You better dry your eyes, my little Coal Black Rose, (and don’t you cry) You better go to sleep and let those eye lids close, (Just hushaby) ‘Cause you’re dark, don’t start apinin’, You’re 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, (so curly que) They put a sunbeam in your disposition too, that’s true, The reason you’re so black I ’spose They 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 You better dry your eyes, my little Coal Black Rose, (and don’t you cry) You better go to sleep and let those eye lids close, (Just hushaby) ‘Cause you’re dark, don’t start apinin’, You’re 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, (so curly que) They put a sunbeam in your disposition too, that’s true, The reason you’re so black I ’spose They 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.
Second verse
And then I saw that dear old Mammy Kiss those baby tears away While in her arms the baby nestled Happy 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)
