Original upload date: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT
Archive date: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:45:33 GMT
Yes, this song version from 1903 is in E-flat whereas the instrumental piano solo score from 1899 was published in A-flat. This song is sung from the perspective of a man from out of town who goes to
...
a party, then makes a hit with the ladies, which results in a fight. If you replace the names of the dances with modern terms, replace the razors with pistols and the coach & four with a limo, it could just about pass for a modern rap song straight from today's ghettos!
You actually can rap this. I won't do it on video as you don't want to see a geeky middle-aged white guy rapping, but try it for yourself!
You can download scans of the Library of Congress' copy of this song here:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200029066/default.html
It is an earlier edition than the one I have reprinted in a 1970s book, so there are some more mistakes in that one than in the one I have.
