The Gems of the
CHRISTY'S

Dearest Mae    Lubly Nigger Boy
Oh Susanna    Oh Dearest Joe
Rosa Lee    Susan Dear
Uncle Ned    Ole Ned
Lousianna Belle    Joe of Tennessee
Darkie's Come    Nigger Wid de Blue Eye
Oh Come to de Husking    Sukey Doughnut
Carry Me Back    Julia Green
Kate Loraine    Romping Nell
Laughing Joe    Lynchburg Town
Stop Dat Knocking    Julius' Bride
New-Mary Blane    Nancy Tease
Witching Dinah Crow    Come to de Ole Gum Tree
Bowery Gals    My Pretty Floy
Rosa Ginger    Belle ob Alabama

"Rosa Ginger" (1849)
As sung by G. Swaine of the 
New Orleans Serenaders.
Arranged, with Symphonies and 
Accompaniments by William Clifton.

New York: Vanderbeek
Engraver and Printer: Thomas Birch 
[Source: the Detroit Public Library,
from the Hackley Sheet Music Collection;
Digital ID: dpl-hac-00042.dc 
OCLC Record ID: 28176852] 

1. I’se acquainted wid a yaller gal, 
Born in Saint Domingo. 
Was not she a hansum gal? 
Dat she was by jingo; 
But most ob all dat pleas’d me best, 
She was a charming singer, 
And play’d de Banjo while she sung, 
Her name was Rosa Ginger.

CHORUS [sung twice after each verse]
Twang, twang, de banjo rang, 
So nimble was her finger, 
Lubly was de song she sung, 
My hansum Rosa Ginger.

2. Miss Rosa she was quite de ting,
But rather too romantic;
She us’d to serenade de youths,
On tudder side de atlantic;
A darkey youth cotch’d by her wiles,
Whose passions would not linger,
Reserv’d at once to win her smiles;
And change her name from Ginger.

3. Dis youth he was by lub inflam’d,
His proper name JoHones;
She always play’d de ole banjo,
While Jones he play’d BoHones;
He often sigh’d, he often tri’d,
To marry, he to bring her;
But she held off and linger’d long,
For frickle was Miss Ginger.

4. One night dar was a cullard ball,
Which rarely happen’d so so;
Wid pleasure I did meet her dar,
For I took wid me de banjo;
I sung wid her you may be sure,
I wish’d dat I would bring her;
She sigh’d and sung, while her head it hung,
I tink I had won Miss Ginger.

5. Now dis took place some years ago,
Yet she and I am single;
Den ladies all just hab a care,
Or tears wid joy will mingle;
She jilted me, O, she jilted me,
For dat she seems to linger;
Although she plays de ole banjo,
She still am ole Miss Ginger.