Content Warning: This song depicts racist ideas and language of the time and may be offensive or upsetting to listeners.

 

04 The Coon Can

BERT:
WHO COULD PUT AWAY WATERMELON BY THE TRAY?

THE COON CAN.
WHO CAN WHILE AWAY WHILE THE OTHERS WORK ALL DAY?
THE COON CAN.

WHILE THEY’RE PICKIN’ COTTON,
HE’LL SAY IT’S HOT AN’
HE’LL BLOT A LOT AN’ FAN.
WHO’D RATHER PICK OUT A BANJO LICK?
THE COON CAN.

WHO CAN HAVE A SON AND SAY, “WHY I HAVE JUST BEGUN?” THE COON CAN.
WHO CAN MAKE A TON OF PICKANINNIES ONE BY ONE?
THE COON CAN.

ALL OF HIS CHILLEN
CRY LIKE THEY WILL AN’
HE HAD HIS FILL AN’ RAN

WHO CAN HAVE TEN KIDS
AND THEN SWEAR THAT THEY AIN’T HIS?
THE COON CAN.

WHO CAN WAIT FOR NIGHT TO STEAL A CHICKEN OUT OF SIGHT?
THE COON CAN!
WHO’S GONNA BITE, PULL A RAZOR OUT AN’ FIGHT?
THE COON CAN!

AIN’T IT A SHAME
WE DON’T KNOW HIS NAME
‘CAUSE WE ALL LOOK THE SAME
TO THE KLAN.

WHO CAN RUN AWAY
AND LET OTHER DARKIES PAY?
THE COON CAN.

YES, WHO CAN RUN AWAY AND LET OTHER DARKIES PAY?
THE COON CAN!