“Shoo Fly”

Description

"I think I hear the angels sing (x3), The angels now are on the wing. I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star (x2)." "Shoo fly, don't bother me (x3), For I just been on a merry spree." (or "belong to Company G," or the like).

Supplemental text

Shoo Fly
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

Shew! Fly, Don't Bother Me

From sheet music published 1869 by White, Smith & Perry. The title
above is from the interior page; the title page is inscribed
            To
    J.C. Trowbridge Esq.
  SHEW FLY DONT BOTHER ME
    Comic Song AND Dance
          SUNG BY
Cool Burgess, AND Rollin Howard
          MELODY BY
       FRANK CAMPBELL
        ARRANGED BY
       ROLLIN HOWARD

1. I think I hear the angels sing,
   I think I hear the angels sing,
   I think I hear the angels sing,
   The angels now are on the wing.
   I feel, I feel, I feel,
   That's what my mother said,
   The angels pouring 'lasses down,
   Upon this nigger's head.

CHORUS.
Shew! fly, don't bother me,
Shew! fly, don't bother me,
Shew! fly, don't bother me,
I belong to Company G.
I feel, I feel, I feel,
I feel like a morning star.
I feel, I feel, I feel,
I feel like a morning star.
I feel, I feel, I feel,
I feel like a morning star.

2. If I sleep in the sun this nigger knows,
   If I sleep in the sun this nigger knows,
   If I sleep in the sun this nigger knows,
   A fly come by sting him on the nose.
   I feel, I feel, I feel,
   That's what my mother said,
   Whenever this nigger goes to sleep,
   He must cover up his head.

Notes

Variously attributed. The 1869 sheet credits the words to Billy Reeves and the music to Frank Campbell. Another 1869 publication gives the author as Thomas Brigham Bishop. The latter, published by Bishop himself, claims that the piece comes from "the negro farce the 'Cook.'" The corroborative evidence for the claims is thin. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The Blue-Tail Fly" [Laws I19] (chorus lyrics)

Recordings

• Uncle Dave Macon, "Sho' Fly Don't Bother Me" (Vocalion 5010, 1926)
• Pete Seeger, "Shoo Fly" (on PeteSeeger33, PeteSeegerCD03)
• Jimmy Yates' Boll Weevils, "Shoo Fly!" (Victor 21753, 1928)

References

1. Randolph 273, "Shoo Fly" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
2. RJackson-19CPop, pp. 190-193, "Shew! Fly, Don't Bother Me" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Spaeth-ReadWeep, pp. 55-56, "Shoo, Fly, Don't Bother Me" (1 fragmentary text, 1 tune)
4. Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 200, (no title) (1 fragment, the "Company G" version)
5. Silber-FSWB, p. 388, "Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me" (1 text)
6. ST R273 (Full)
7. Roud #3433
8. BI, R273