Minstrel song

Song lyrics to Buffalo Gals (1844) by John Hodges,

“Buffalo Gals” is a traditional American song, written and published as “Lubly Fan” in 1844 by the blackface minstrel John Hodges. The song was widely popular throughout the United States, where minstrels often altered the lyrics to suit local audiences, performing it as “New York Gals” in New York City, “Boston Gals” in Boston, or “Alabama Girls” in Alabama, as in the version recorded by Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins on a 1959 field recording trip. The best-known version is named after Buffalo, New York.