Ten little niggers going out to dine
One choked his little self and then there were nine
Nine little niggers crying at his fate
One cried himself away and then there were eight
One little two little three little four little
five little nigger boys
Six little seven little eight little nine little
ten little nigger boys
Eight little niggers never heard of heaven
One kicked the bucket and then there where seven
Seven little niggers cutting up sticks
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six
One little two little three little four little
five little nigger boys
Six little seven little eight little nine little
ten little nigger boys
Six little niggers playing with a hive
A bumble bee killed one and then there were five
Five little niggers went in for law
One got in chancery and then there were four
One little two little three little four little
five little nigger boys
Six little seven little eight little nine little
ten little nigger boys
Four little niggers going out to sea
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three
Three little niggers walking in the Zoo
A big bear cuddled one and then there were two
One little two little three little four little
five little nigger boys
Six little seven little eight little nine little
ten little nigger boys
Two little niggers sitting in the sun
One got frizzled up then there was one
One little nigger living all alone
He got married and then there was none
One little two little three little four little
five little nigger boys
Six little seven little eight little nine little
ten little nigger boys
One little nigger with his little wife
Lived all his days a happy little life
One little couple dwelling by the shore
Soon raised a family of ten niggers more
One little two little three little four little
five little nigger boys
Six little seven little eight little nine little
ten little nigger boys
Text: Verfasser unbekannt, möglicherweise von Frank J. Green 1869 in London aus Ten Little Indians zu „Ten Little Niggers“ umgetextet
Musik: schottisches Traditional
u. a. in: „The Ten Cent Ten Little Injuns Songster“ (1869)
Die Noten oben aus einem Liederbuch von 1877: „Pan – ein lustiges Liederbuch für Gymnasiasten, mit den Singweisen“ – auch in: Diprose’s Standard Song Book and Reciter. (1870)
„Ten little Niggers“ gehörte zum Standardrepertoire der Minstrel Shows, in denen Weiße US-Amerikaner mit dunkel bemaltem Gesicht „Neger“ verspotteten. Die bekannteste dieser US-amerikanischen Gruppen, die Christy’s Minstrels, brachten das Lied nach Großbritannien. Beide Lieder wurden ab 1868 als Kinderbücher auf den Markt gebracht, die ältesten deutschen Ausgaben erschienen ab 1885, als in Berlin die „Kongokonferenz“ um die Aufteilung Afrikas stattfand. Auf deutsch entstand dann in der Übertragung „Zehn kleine Negerlein“ auf eine andere Melodie.
