From “The Red Moon”, 1909
Words by Bob Cole
Music by J. Rosamond Johnson
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Phoebe was the name of Aunt Dinah’s child
Phoebe Brown from Tybee town
Phoebe was the maid for the great Miss Wilde
The lady took Phoebe whenever she traveled around
Went to France and to Spain
Now she’s come back again
She’s not the same, she’s putting on airs
She’s changed her name to
Senorita Phoebe-etta Brown
Chorus:
Phoebe-etta should know better
It will get her in a jam
Tryin’ to fool old Uncle Sam
When we “kno’s just who she am”
Paint and powder, dressing louder
Tryin’ to fool everybody in town
When we kno’s her name ain’t nothin’ else
But jes’ plain Phoebe Brown
- Phoebe kept the folks in the town in a spell
Spanish walk and Spanish talk
One day Phoebe walked in a big hotel
And everyone thought that now
Here is where Phoebe will balk
She was shown to a chair
And with her Spanish air
She said “Senor, bring one Spanish stew
Some Spanish mackerel
But bring a slice of watermelon, too”