[Dixielandjazz] Re: Shine & That's Why They Call Me Shine

[Andy.Ling at Quantel.Com]

> <<In 1927 or so the lyrics were changed to "Shine your shoesies, shine 
away
> your bluesies" or some other nonsense. Perhaps to make it less 
threatening?
> 
> The verse, along with some historical perspective, makes it pretty clear
> that the tune was a protest against a beating that one Samuel Johnson 
Brown
> (the Shine in the lyric) was given by a gang of Whites around 1900 >>
> 
> Hi Steve,
> jjust got to your post after posting my own comments to a previous 
message. 
> Do have the `original` words which point to the beating episode?
> I have  never heard any variation on the now generally accepted ones. 
> `Bluesies` and `shoesies` may be a rubbish ryhme but it fits in pretty 
well 
> with the generally upbeat feeling of the number. What were the 
`threatening 
> ` words which they replaced.
> 

The verse Steve refers to goes :-

When I was born they christened me plain Samuel Johnson Brown.
But I hadn't grown so very tall, 'fore some folks in this town
Had changed it 'round to "Sambo"; I was "Rastus" to a few.
Then "Chocolate Drop" was added by some others that I knew.
And then to cap the climax, I was strolling down the line
When someone shouted, "Fellas, hey! Come on and pipe the shine!"
But I don't care a bit. Here's how I figure it:

Then the well known chorus :-

Well, just because my hair is curly,
And just because my teeth are pearly;
Just because I always wear a smile,
Likes to dress up in the latest style.
Just because I'm glad I'm livin',
Takes trouble smilin', never whine.
Just because my color's shady,
slightly different maybe that's why they call me shine.

Andy Ling