Minstrel March: Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey

Gentlemen be seated!
Tonight's a night of merriment
Of laughter, songs and jokes
I'm host and interlocutor
The master of these folks!
Shake those tambourines boys! I introduce
Two jolly pranksters
Each as black as sambo
But they're men of many faces
Mr. Bones!
And mr. Tambo!

It's show time, boys. Don't be nervous!
Just let those butterflies out of them c'coons!

Hey hey hey hey
Look what we've got for you
Come on, gather 'round.

Hey hey hey hey
You won't be able to
Keep your toes from tippy tapping
Over the ground.

Sit back now
Relax and get comf'table
Sad thoughts out of sight.

Hey hey, say hello
To the minstrel men
Here to entertain you
Tonight!

Mr. Tambo, how are you feeling tonight?
I'se fine. But i think that lady in the front row is shocked!
Mr. Tambo, she's just not used to seeing you in those clothes
And i ain't used to seeing her in hers!

Hey hey i play
All kinds of characters
Tambo, he does too.

I do!
Mean men
Keen men
White men's our speciality!
Even dose who knows
Don' always knows
Who is who!

Sing along
Or tell us a joke
If you want to, that's alright.

Hey hey hey hey
Join in the merriment
Everyone's a minstrel
Tonight.

Mr. Tambo, are you ready to have a good time?
Indeed! Let's have all the men lean over and kiss the ladies in the front
And all the men in front kiss the ladies behind!

Hey hey hey hey
Kick up a noisy fuss
Play with us a while.

Hey hey hey hey
If you're a gloomy gus
We'll erase that sour face
And teach you to smile.

Old songs, new songs
Brassy and bluesy songs
That is what you'll hear
Hey hey hey hey
Nothing but joy and light
Any night the minstrels appear.

Mr. Interlocutor, what story are we going to tell tonight?
We're going to tell the story of the scottsboro boys!
Oh dat's a funny story!

Come
And watch them
Sing and dance
Come and share
Their tears and joyscome
This is your final chance
To meet
The scottsboro boys.

That's right, we're telling your story boys! Just like we always do!
Mr. Interlocutor, this time can we tell it like it really happened? This time can we tell the truth?
Of course, haywood! Have you ever told the truth before, mr. Tambo?
Is that what we're doing?
Yes.

No. I've never done this before.

Hey hey hey hey
Look what we've got for you
Come on gather ‘round
Hey hey hey hey
You won't be able to
Keep your toes from tippy tappin' over the ground
Sit back now relax and
Get comfortable, sad thoughts out of sight
Hey hey say hello
To the minstrel men.

Come
And watch them
Sing and dance
Come
And share their
Tears and joys
Come
This is your final chance
Your final chance
To say hello
To the minstrel men
Here to entertain you tonight.

To meet the scottsboro boys
To meet the scottsboro boys
To meet the scottsboro boys.

Tonight's a night of laughter, songs
And merriment and jokes
Everyone's a minstrel to.

“wheel about, turn about and do just so. Every time dey wheel about, dey jump jim crow!”

Everyone's a minstrel
Tonight!