Daniel Decatur Emmett

“ Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man He washed his face in a frying pan He combed his hair with a wagon wheel And died with a toothache in his heel. Chorus: So get out of the way for old Dan Tucker He's too late to get his supper Supper's over and dinner's cookin' Old Dan Tucker just stand there lookin'. I come to town the other night I heard the noise and saw the fight The watchman was a-runnin' round Crying "Old Dan Tucker's come to town." Old Dan Tucker is a nice old man He used to ride our darby ram He sent him whizzing down the hill If he hadn't got up, he'd lay there still. ”

“ De limb hit broke an' Dan got a fall— Nuver got to see his Lord at all! Miss Tucker she went out one day, To ride with Dan in a one horse sleigh. De sleigh was broke, and de horse was blind— Miss Tucker she got left behind. ”

“ He might have seen the smoke and stuff, But his short legs can't run fast enough. Chorus [7] Folk versions Slave version from 1850s Orange County, North Carolina:
Marster and Missus look' might fine— Gwine to take a journey, gwine whar dey gwine, Crab grass a-dyin', red sun in de west, Saturday's comin', nigger gwine to rest. [8] Slave version remembered by Dora Franks of Aberdeen, Mississippi:
Old Dan Tucker was a mighty mean man, He beat his wife with a fryin' pan. She hollered and she cried, "I'se gwine to go, Dey's plenty o' men won't beat me so." ”