Minstrel March / Hey, Hey, Hey! Lyrics – The Scottsboro Boys

Minstrel March / Hey, Hey, Hey! Text

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Interlocutor:
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!

Mr. Bones:
It's show time, boys. Don't be nervous!

Mr. Tambo:
Just let those butterflies out of them c'coons!

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 comf'table
Sad thoughts out of sight

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

Interlocutor:
Mr. Tambo, how are you feeling tonight?

Tambo:
I'se fine. But I think that lady in the front row is shocked!

Interlocutor:
Mr. Tambo, she's just not used to seeing you in those clothes.

Tambo:
And I ain't used to seeing her in hers!

Bones:
Hey hey I play
All kinds of characters
Tambo, he does too

Tambo:
I do!
Mean men

Bones:
Keen men

Both:
White men's our speciality!
Even dose who knows
Don' always knows
Who is who!

Tambo:
Sing along

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

Bones:
Mr. Tambo, are you ready to have a good time?

Tambo:
Indeed! Let's have all the men lean over and kiss the ladies in the front.

Bones: 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
Any night the minstrels appear.

MR. BONES
Mr. Interlocutor, what story are we going to tell tonight?

INTERLOCUTOR
We’re going to tell the story of the Scottsboro Boys!

MR. TAMBO
Oh DAT’S a funny story!

ALL
COME
AND WATCH THEM
SING AND DANCE
COME AND SHARE
THEIR TEARS AND JOYSCOME
THIS IS YOUR FINAL CHANCE
TO MEET
THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

INTERLOCUTOR
That’s right, we’re telling your story boys! Just like we always do!

HAYWOOD PATTERSON
Mr. Interlocutor, this time can we tell it like it really happened? This time can we tell the truth?

INTERLOCUTOR
Of course, Haywood! Have you ever told the truth before, Mr. Tambo?

MR. TAMBO
Is that what we’re doing?

INTERLOCUTOR
Yes.

MR. TAMBO
No. I’ve never done this before.

MR. TAMBO,MR. BONES & GROUP ONE
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

GROUP TWO:
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

GROUP ONE
HERE TO ENTERTAIN YOU TONIGHT

GROUP TWO
TO MEET THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
TO MEET THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
TO MEET THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

MR. TAMBO and MR. BONES
TONIGHT’S A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER, SONGS
AND MERRIMENT AND JOKES

ALL
EVERYONE’S A MINSTREL TO --

MR. TAMBO and 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!

[Thanks to Garrett for lyrics]