Pickaninny Heaven

Album: Hello Everybody (1933)
Play Video
  • Little pickaninnies listen to the tale of a place that I know
    It's twice as high as the moon
    You get there in a balloon

    Haven't you been told of the place where the good little pickaninnies go?
    I've just been there so I ought to know
    Great big watermelons roll around and get in your way
    In the pickaninny heaven

    Luscious pork chop bushes growin' right outside your doorway
    In the pickaninnies' heaven
    I've heart that they've even got a Swannee River made of real lemonade
    And though the good lord took your mammy
    She'll be waiting for you In the pickaninny heaven
    Heaven
    Heaven

    They eat the windows and doors
    They eat the ceilings and floors
    Every kind of pet from a big teddy bear to a little Mickey Mouse
    And old Black Joe is their Santa Claus

    I've heart that they've even got a Swannee River made of real lemonade
    And though the good lord took your mammy
    She'll be waiting for you In the pickaninny heaven
    Heaven
    Heaven Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Bill from UsaWe have absolutely got to start understanding that life 70 or 80 or 100 years ago is History. Was there bias? Yes. Was it wrong? Yes. But did they know it? No. A real good example: at the time of Christ, Jewish men were not considered ready for marriage until they were 30 years old. Who did they marry? Teenagers. It was correct. It was “policy.” Policy doesn’t have to make sense. It’s the way things were.
  • David Mcdonald from MassachusettsThat was disturbing on so many levels, it boggles the mind. I had seen the lyrics before, but I had never heard it performed. A lullaby? It sounded like an Athletic fight song for black orphans. Let me ask this question: If i had substituted "wop", "mick", or "polack" for pickaninny, and used terms like "meatballs", "potatoes", "kielbasa" for pork chops, would it still be just a silly song? It is a sorry excuse for a tune, no matter who wrote it, or recorded it.
  • William Sanders from New YorkIf Smith is fair game for ''Darkies,'' why not famed American singer, Paul Robeson, who is credited as Producer of the Smith recording, and who also recorded that song? Is it because he was black?
  • Bd from VicksburgGod bless America and Kate Smith!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.