"Carve Dat Possum" is a minstrel song attributed to Sam Lucas in 1875. Very popular in its time,[1] it tells of hunting and preparing a possum to eat. The chorus:
| "Carve Dat Possum" | |
|---|---|
 Cover of "Carve Dat Possum", 1875 | |
| Song | |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1875 |
| Songwriter(s) | Sam Lucas |
- Carve dat possum, carve dat possum, children,
- Carve dat possum, carve him to de heart;
- Carve dat possum, carve dat possum, children,
- Carve dat possum, carve him to de heart.[2]
The song, as published by Lucas, is in 2/4 time.
Although the song was first performed by Lucas, The Pacific Appeal (San Francisco, October 25, 1879) notes that "it was only after a long epistolary discussion that Henry Hart (musician) obtained a public acknowledgement that he was the genuine author."
References edit
Bibliography edit
- Johnson, James Weldon. Black Manhattan: Account of the Development of Harlem. New York: Alfred A Knopf (1930).
- Lucas, Sam. "Carve Dat Possum" (sheet music). Boston: John F. Perry & Co. (1875).
External links edit
- "Carve Dat Possum" Internet Archive—Peerless Quartet with Harry C. Browne (Columbia 2590).
- "Carve Dat Possum" Library of Congress.
- "Carve Dat Possum" Stephen Railton & the University of Virginia.
 | This song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |