Old Folks at Home
Encyclopedia
"Old Folks at Home" is a minstrel song written by Stephen Foster
in 1851. It was intended to be performed by the New York blackface
troupe Christy's Minstrels
. E. P. Christy, the troupe's leader, appears on early printings of the sheet music as the song's creator. Christy had paid Foster to be credited, something Foster himself had suggested though later regretted. It has been the official state song of Florida
since 1935.
According to legend, Foster had most of the lyrics but was trying to give a name to the river of the opening line and asked his brother to suggest one. The first suggestion was "Yazoo
" (in Mississippi
), which despite fitting the melody perfectly, Foster rejected. The second suggestion was "Pee Dee
" (in South Carolina
), to which Foster said, "Oh pshaw! I won't have that." His brother then consulted an atlas and called out "Suwannee
!" Foster said "That's it exactly!" He wrote it in immediately (misspelling it "Swanee" to fit the melody). Foster himself never saw the Suwannee or even visited Florida, but the popularity of the song initiated tourism
to Florida to see the river.
toward black Americans
for its imitation of Black English Vernacular
(the song is sung from the perspective of a black man), with its original lyrics referring to "darkies" and "a-longin' for the old plantation
." Foster himself supported the North
during the American Civil War
and sympathized with African-Americans. In 1997, former state representative Willy Logan presented an unsuccessful motion to have the song replaced. For many public performances, words like "lordy," "mama," "darling," "brothers" or "dear ones" are often used in place of "darkies."
As the official state song of Florida, it had become a tradition for the tune to be performed as part of the inauguration ceremony for incoming Florida governors. However, Charlie Crist
decided not to include it in his 2007 inauguration
ceremony. In its place, Crist decided upon "The Florida Song," a composition written by Charles Atkins, an African-American jazz
musician born in Daytona Beach
who now lives in Tallahassee
.
In May 2007, the Florida Music Educators Association
began working in partnership with Senator Tony Hill and Representative Ed Homan to present an initiative in which all of Florida's citizens were invited to submit their entries for a new state song. From the press release: "The process officially begins Tuesday (May 15) for Florida's musicians to submit their entries for 'Just Sing, Florida!', the search for a new state song." The Florida Music Educators' Association (FMEA) created a new web site, http://justsingflorida.org/ , which contained rules and submission guidelines. On January 11, 2008, the song "Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)
" was selected as the winner and will be brought up before the state legislature as a possible replacement for "Old Folks At Home". The Florida legislature considered the issue and ultimately adopted "Where The Sawgrass Meets The Sky" as the state anthem and kept "Old Folks At Home" as the state song.
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
in 1851. It was intended to be performed by the New York blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
troupe Christy's Minstrels
Christy's Minstrels
Christy's Minstrels, sometimes referred to as the Christy Minstrels, were a blackface group formed by Edwin Pearce Christy, a well-known ballad singer, in 1843, in Buffalo, New York. They were instrumental in the solidification of the minstrel show into a fixed three-act form...
. E. P. Christy, the troupe's leader, appears on early printings of the sheet music as the song's creator. Christy had paid Foster to be credited, something Foster himself had suggested though later regretted. It has been the official state song of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
since 1935.
According to legend, Foster had most of the lyrics but was trying to give a name to the river of the opening line and asked his brother to suggest one. The first suggestion was "Yazoo
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi.The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. The exact meaning of the term is unclear...
" (in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
), which despite fitting the melody perfectly, Foster rejected. The second suggestion was "Pee Dee
Pee Dee River
The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in North Carolina and South Carolina. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course above the mouth of the Uwharrie River is known as the Yadkin River. It is extensively dammed for flood...
" (in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
), to which Foster said, "Oh pshaw! I won't have that." His brother then consulted an atlas and called out "Suwannee
Suwannee River
The Suwannee River is a major river of southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about long. The Suwannee River is the site of the prehistoric Suwannee Straits which separated peninsular Florida from the panhandle.-Geography:The river rises in the...
!" Foster said "That's it exactly!" He wrote it in immediately (misspelling it "Swanee" to fit the melody). Foster himself never saw the Suwannee or even visited Florida, but the popularity of the song initiated tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
to Florida to see the river.
Controversy
This song is seen by some as racistRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
toward black Americans
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
for its imitation of Black English Vernacular
African American Vernacular English
African American Vernacular English —also called African American English; less precisely Black English, Black Vernacular, Black English Vernacular , or Black Vernacular English —is an African American variety of American English...
(the song is sung from the perspective of a black man), with its original lyrics referring to "darkies" and "a-longin' for the old plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
." Foster himself supported the North
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and sympathized with African-Americans. In 1997, former state representative Willy Logan presented an unsuccessful motion to have the song replaced. For many public performances, words like "lordy," "mama," "darling," "brothers" or "dear ones" are often used in place of "darkies."
As the official state song of Florida, it had become a tradition for the tune to be performed as part of the inauguration ceremony for incoming Florida governors. However, Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
decided not to include it in his 2007 inauguration
Inauguration
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
ceremony. In its place, Crist decided upon "The Florida Song," a composition written by Charles Atkins, an African-American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician born in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
who now lives in Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
.
In May 2007, the Florida Music Educators Association
Florida Music Educators Association
The Florida Music Educators Association, or FMEA, is the Florida state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. FMEA is a not-for-profit, professional association that serves and supports music educators across Florida...
began working in partnership with Senator Tony Hill and Representative Ed Homan to present an initiative in which all of Florida's citizens were invited to submit their entries for a new state song. From the press release: "The process officially begins Tuesday (May 15) for Florida's musicians to submit their entries for 'Just Sing, Florida!', the search for a new state song." The Florida Music Educators' Association (FMEA) created a new web site, http://justsingflorida.org/ , which contained rules and submission guidelines. On January 11, 2008, the song "Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)
Florida (song)
"Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" is the official anthem of the State of Florida. Originally written as a replacement for the state song, it was instead designated as the state's official anthem in 2008, alongside the previously designated state song, "Old Folks at Home" by Stephen...
" was selected as the winner and will be brought up before the state legislature as a possible replacement for "Old Folks At Home". The Florida legislature considered the issue and ultimately adopted "Where The Sawgrass Meets The Sky" as the state anthem and kept "Old Folks At Home" as the state song.
External links
- Closeup of Foster's notebook page with first draft of "Old Folks at Home", including substitution of "Pedee" with "Swannee"
- Old Folks at Home, from the Center for American Music, home of the Foster Hall Collection
- New York Times article on Foster mentioning "Old Folks at Home"
- www.negrophile.com article on lyrics, alternate state songs
- Recording of "Old Folks at Home" at the 1955 Florida Folk Festival; made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida
- Alternate recording by The 97th Regimental String Band