[1st verse:] Sam Johnson was 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 [Refrain:] 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
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