Image Title

:  You've been a good old wagon, but you've done broke down / song by Harney & Biller.

Alternate Title(s)

: I was standing in a crapgame doing no harm, baby! [first line] Title 2.) No more will I buy my sweet thing pork chops! [first line of chorus]

Creator

: Harney, Benjamin Robertson, 1872-1938 -- Composer

Additional Name(s)

: Biller, Johnny -- Arranger

Published Date

: [c1896]

Specific Material Type

: music

Item Physical Description

: 1 score (4 p.) ; 36 cm.

Notes

: After chorus contains 40 measures of music for piano solo labeled Dance music. Note 2.) Considered one of the first published ragtime songs. Note 3.) Harney and Biller credited as co-composers beneath caption title. [Biller was the arranger.] Note 4.) Photocopy, lacking cover. Note 5.) Summary: Using ethnic stereotyped language, the narrator describes being in a game of craps when a policeman puts him in jail. The narrator offers farewells to his girlfriend. The narrator goes before a judge saying that he was at a crap game carrying a gun; the judge and jury say he killed three African Americans in the first degree and can not be released on bail.

Source

: American popular songs. / Sheet music, 1896

Location

: The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts / Music Division

Digital ID

: 1166137

Record ID

: 464363

Digital Item Published

: 6-17-2010; updated 3-25-2011