I'm off for Charleston.

              f 8S eiMLBf I
My massa and my missus dey both am gone away,
Dey gone to de Sulphur Springs de summer months to stay;
An' while dey'r ofi" togedder on dis little kind ob spree,
I'll go down to Charleston de pretty gals to see.
Chorus—I'm off for Charleston early in de morning,
I'm off for Charleston a little while to stay.
Give my respects to ev'ry pretty yaller gal,
I'm off for Charleston before de broke ob day.
My Nelly waved her handkerchief when she seed me go,
Floating down de ribber wid de ole banjo.
As I stood and gazed upon her, I wiped away a tear,
An' de last word I sed to her was Far you well my dear.
I'm off for Charleston, Soq.
It begin to rain a little, de night was very dark,
An' when my Nelly said **good-bye" de dog begin to bark,
De dog he scar't the buzzard, de buzzard scar't de coon,
Dey all made a nigger run till next day noon.
I'm off for Charleston, &c.
De Coon begin to tire, de Dog he tire too,
De niggar he got tireder, an' he didn't know what to do ;
De Buzzard kept a flying till de Chickens gin to crow,
Den he came down to hear me play de old banjo.
I'm off for Charleston, &c.
Charleston is a pretty place, de gals dey kiss so sweet,
Dey am so slender 'bout de waist, and dress so berry neat;
But I'd radder kiss my Nell dan all de gals I eber see,
Kase her breff is like an orange-blossom hanging on a tree.
Chorus—I'm off for Charleston, early in de morning.
I'm off for Charleston a little while to stay.
Give my respects to every pretty yaller gal,
I'm off to Charleston before de broke ob day.
T. M. SCBOGGY Publisher No. 443 Vine Street below 13th,
where all the new songs can be had, wholesale and retail.
From the Kenneth S. Goldstein Collection, Center For Popular Music, MTSU.