The song made its public debut as the last number at a Glee Club minstrel show, where it was met by the student audience with laughter and applause as a joke on President Prather's admonition. Prather too was in attendance, and enjoyed the song and promoted its usage.[1] He died in 1905,[3] and the song was played at his funeral.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5116560&forum_id=2#48540970)

(SOLO) I once did know a girl named Grace--

(QUARTET) I'm wukkin' on de levee;

(SOLO) She done brung me to dis sad disgrace

(QUARTET) O' wukkin' on de levee.

I been wukkin' on de railroad

All de livelong day,

I been wukkin' on de railroad

Ter pass de time away.

Doan' yuh hyah de whistle blowin'?

Ris up, so uhly in de mawn;

Doan' yuh hyah de cap'n shouin',

"Dinah, blow yo' hawn?"

Sing a song o' the city;

Roll dat cotton bale;

N***** aint half so happy

As when he's out o' jail

Norfolk foh its oystah shells,

Boston foh its beans,

Chahleston foh its rice an' cawn,

But foh n****** New Awleens.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5116560&forum_id=2#48541000)

worst theft until Blurred Lines

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5116560&forum_id=2#48540979)