Minstrel March / Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey

Lyrics

[INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] Gentlemen, be seated! (singing) Tonight's a night of merriment Of laughter, songs and jokes I'm host and interlocutor The master of these folks (spoken) Shake those tambourines, boys! (singing) I introduce two jolly pranksters Each one as black as Sambo But they're men of many faces Mr. Bones! And Mr. Tambo! [MR. BONES, spoken] It's showtime, boys, don't be nervous! [MR. TAMBO, spoken] Just let those butterflies outta 'dem cocoons! [ALL] 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 comfortable Sad thoughts out of sight Hey, hey, say hello to the minstrel men Here to entertain you tonight [INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] Mr. Tambo, how are you feeling tonight? [MR. TAMBO, spoken] I'se fine, but I think that lady in the front row is shocked! [MR. BONES, spoken] She just can't believe what she's seein' [INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] Mr. Tambo, she's just not used to seeing you in those clothes [MR. TAMBO, spoken] And I ain't used to seeing her in hers! [MR. BONES] Hey, hey, I play all kinds of characters Tambo, he does do [MR. TAMBO, spoken] I do! (singing) Mean men [MR. BONES] Keen men [BOTH] White men's our specialty Even dose who knows Don' always knows who's who [MR. TAMBO] Sing along [MR. BONES] Or tell us a joke [BOTH] If you want to, that's alright [ALL] Hey, hey, hey, hey Join in the merriment Everyone's a minstrel tonight [MR. BONES, spoken] Mr. Tambo, are you ready to have a good time? [MR. TAMBO, spoken] Indeed! Let's have all the men lean over and kiss the ladies in front [MR. BONES, spoken] And all the men in front kiss the ladies behind! [ALL] 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 Ev'ry time the minstrels appear [MR. BONES, spoken] Mr. Interlocutor, what story are we going to tell tonight? [INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] We're going to tell the story of the Scottsboro Boys! [MR. BONES, spoken] Oh, dats a funny story! [ALL] Come And watch them sing and dance Come And share their tears and joys Come This is your final chance To meet the Scottsboro Boys [INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] That's right, we're telling your story boys, just like we always do! [HAYWOOD, spoken] Mr. Interlocutor, this time can we tell it like it really happened? This time can we tell the truth? [INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] Of course, Haywood! Have you ever told the truth before, Mr. Tambo? [MR. TAMBO, spoken] Is that what we're doing? [INTERLOCUTOR, spoken] Yes [MR. TAMBO, spoken] No, I've never done this before [ALL] Hey, hey, hey, hey (Come) Look what we've got for you (And watch them) Come and gather 'round (Sing and dance) Hey, hey, hey, hey (Come) You won't be able to (And share their) Keep your toes from tippy tapping (Tears and joys) Over the ground Sit down now (Come) Relax and get comfortable (This is your final chance) Sad thoughts out of sight (Your final chance) They (to) say hello to the minstrel men Here to entertain you tonight (To meet the Scottsboro Boys) To meet the Scottsboro Boys (Tonight's a night) To meet the Scottsboro Boys (Of laughter and jokes) To meet the Scottsboro Boys (Songs and merriment and jokes) Everyone's a minstrel to— [MR. TAMBO & MR. BONES] Wheel about, turn about and do just so Every time dey wheel about, dey jump Jim Crow! [ALL] Everyone's a minstrel tonight!