Good-Bye Alexander: Good-Bye Honey-Boy

Henry Creamer, lyricist, and Turner Layton, songwriter, were a well-known African American songwriting and vaudeville duo.  Their ballad Good-bye Alexander: Good-bye honey-boy describes Alexander Cooper, an African American soldier, going off to war and his girlfriend, Dinah Lee’s, reaction to his military service.  The song conveys the pride in service of the African American community at a time when segregation and racial discrimination was present in the United States military.

Very popular with jazz artists of the time, the song is associated with Marion Harris, Ada Jones, Wilbur Sweatman’s Original Jazz Band, and the Farber Sisters.