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| Another explanation holds that Foster was inspired by ]'s novel '']'', which was published in 1851.<ref name=kye /> | Another explanation holds that Foster was inspired by ]'s novel '']'', which was published in 1851.<ref name=kye /> | ||
| The song is clearly an appropriation of a slave's lament at being sold "down the River," in the interstate slave trade. Foster may have heard the song, or a version of it, being sung by bondsmen who were forcibly separated from their families in Kentucky and sold to Louisiana, the only state where sugar cane was grown in significant quantities. The interstate slave trade was a signal feature of the antebellum South.<ref>See especially Walter Johnson, "Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999) </ref> | |||
| ==Lyrics== | ==Lyrics== | ||
Revision as of 18:19, 14 September 2009
This article is about the state song of Kentucky. For other uses, see My Old Kentucky Home (disambiguation)."My Old Kentucky Home" (originally titled "Poor Uncle Tom, Good Night!", and sometimes also titled "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!") is the state song of Kentucky. It was published by Stephen Foster in 1853 and was adopted by the Kentucky General Assembly as the official state song on March 19, 1928.
The song describes a scene of life on a slave plantation. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass believed the song was sympathetic to slaves. In 1986, the Kentucky General Assembly adopted a version unlikely to cause offense in which the original word "darkies" was changed to "people."
History
The first draft of "My Old Kentucky Home" appeared in Stephen Collins Foster's workbook under the title "Poor Uncle Tom, Good Night." It was published in 1853 by New York's Firth, Pound, and Company.
According to folklore, Foster was inspired to write the song when, while traveling from his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to New Orleans, Louisiana, he stopped in Bardstown, Kentucky to visit his cousins, the Rowan family, and saw their magnificent Federal Hill mansion. However, while Foster's trip to New Orleans is well-documented, his stop in Kentucky has not been conclusively substantiated. Also problematic is that the lyrics refer not to a mansion, but a "little cabin". Also, Foster's trip took place in 1852, after the first draft of the song had already been written. Foster's only documented trip to Kentucky occurred in 1833 when his mother took him to visit relatives in Augusta and Louisville.
Another explanation holds that Foster was inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was published in 1851.
The song is clearly an appropriation of a slave's lament at being sold "down the River," in the interstate slave trade. Foster may have heard the song, or a version of it, being sung by bondsmen who were forcibly separated from their families in Kentucky and sold to Louisiana, the only state where sugar cane was grown in significant quantities. The interstate slave trade was a signal feature of the antebellum South.
Lyrics
The lyrics, as originally composed by Foster, are:
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Verse 1 The young folks roll on the little cabin floor, Chorus
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Verse 2 The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart, Chorus
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Verse 3 A few more days for to tote the weary load, Chorus |
Revised lyrics
In 1986, the only black member of the Kentucky General Assembly at the time heard a performance by Japanese visitors in which they sang the word "darkies"; he said the lyrics "convey connotations of racial discrimination that are not acceptable." Soon thereafter, the Assembly made some changes to the first verse and chorus, particularly replacing "darkies" with "people."
The sun shines bright in My Old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, and people are gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright;
By 'n' by hard times comes a knocking at the door
Then My Old Kentucky Home, good night!
Weep no more my lady
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For My Old Kentucky Home
For My Old Kentucky Home, far away.
Tradition
"My Old Kentucky Home" is sung annually at the Kentucky Derby with the accompaniment of the University of Louisville marching band. The tradition began sometime between 1921 and 1930, by which time it was established as the music played while the horses are led to the post parade. Churchill Downs, home of the Derby, has, since 1982 held The Stephen Foster Handicap. The song is also played at all University of Louisville football and basketball games accompanied by the Call to the Post which signifies the city and University of Louisville's tie to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. In addition, the University of Louisville band also plays the song at the conclusion of UofL basketball and football games in lieu of the school's alma mater. The University of Kentucky, in Lexington, also plays "My Old Kentucky Home" prior to each home football game and at the conclusion of its basketball games.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (February 2008) |
- In 1970 Randy Newman wrote and recorded an adaptation of the song. Newman's version contains a much less sentimental view of Kentucky life.
- In the 1953 Bugs Bunny cartoon Southern Fried Rabbit Bugs, disguised as Uncle Tom, sings My Old Kentucky Home in order to cross the Mason-Dixon Line.
- My Old Kentucky Home was recently sampled by Louisville, Kentucky Rapper KD. KD's version featured Demi Demaree and Derek "Child" Monyhan of the popular Louisville band, The Villebillies. The song was a hit in Indiana and Kentucky and helped both KD and The Villebillies land recording deals with Universal Motown Records.
- The Palmetto Bug Stompers', a band that hails from the vibrant New Orleans music scene, released the song with post-Katrina lyrics. Stephen Foster's classic was updated from "My Old Kentucky Home" to a "My Ol' New Orleans Home."
- In the 1960s Kentucky Fried Chicken take-out boxes featured the lyrics to the first verse of the song, including the word "darkies".
- In 2001, My Old Kentucky Home was incorporated in the design of the Kentucky state quarter.
References
- ^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Foster, Stephen Collins". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 349–350. ISBN 0813117720.
- Encyclopedia of Kentucky. New York City, New York: Somerset Publishers. 1987. pp. 8–9. ISBN 0403099811.
- See especially Walter Johnson, "Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999)
- ^ "Kentucky's State Song: My Old Kentucky Home". Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
External links
| Kentucky Derby | |
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| Races |
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| Festival | |
| Related | |
 Kentucky portal | |