Carve Dat Possum

"Carve Dat Possum" is a minstrel song attributed to Sam Lucas in 1875. Very popular in its time, it tells of hunting and preparing a possum to eat. The chorus:
 * 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.

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."