The Library of Congress
Two Unreconciled Strivings

 African American baseball players of Morris Brown College, with boy and another man standing at door, Atlanta, Georgia Work

Sheet music

Few documents record an era's negative racial and ethnic stereotypes as bluntly as an era's sheet music. "When de boss am gone away" reflects commonly held white perceptions of how African-Americans regarded work. "It makes no difference what you do, get the money" published a generation later, offers an example of what was known as "coon" music.

When you get to the page, click on the thumbnail photograph to see a larger image.

Click on all page numbers to see all of the lyrics.

To return, press "Back"

Sheet music called "When de boss am gone away" "When de boss am gone away" (1879)[Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1870-1885]



Sheet music called "Get the Money" "Get the money" (1904) [Historic American Sheet Music/Duke University]



Full text (Library of Congress/Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1870-1885)

Full text (Duke University/Historic American Sheet Music/Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University)

Overview Family Work Play Faith Education Race Violence

 

The Library of Congress | American Memory Contact us
Last updated 10/01/2002