[1st verse:]

Sam Johnson as op'ra mad

He sho' had the fever bad

He said, "Those ordinary ragtime tunes are mild

Some music from Verdi's hand

Or any old op'ra grand

Would never fail to set this op'ra darkie wild"

One evening at a ball

They heard Sam Johnson call

Unto the leaderman to play some "William Tell"

The leader swelled his chest and said, "I'll do my best"

So when he played they heard Sam Johnson yell



[chorus:]

Hear dat strain

Mister Verdi come to life again

Oh that operatic sweet refrain

Sho' would drive a crazy man insane

Just let me die and meet those brainy men

Who manufactured notes of opera grand

Oh! Verdi where, where oh art thou?

Let me shake you by the hand, man, you know what's grand

Good Lord, it's over, they're playin' "Home Sweet Home"



[2nd verse:]

Old Sam was a painter man

One day with a brush in hand

He stood upon a scaffold 'way up in the air

A German band below

Was playin' some "Rig'letto"

Sam said, "I know that's op'ra, be it here or there"

While he daubed up the wall

He tried hard not to fall

But in the street the band kept right on playin' fair

They played some "Faust" below, just then old Sam let go

He tumbled down below a-shouting in the air