[Dixielandjazz] Misunderstanding old tunes

[Jack Tracy]

  Tom B. wrote:

  ..........I wonder if any of us jazz musicians 
  today would perform these songs singing the original lyrics.  I've had this 
  discussion with several people at various jazz clubs and events, both 
  musicians and non-musicians.  There are mixed opinions but the popular one 
  is that the words should not be sung anymore since they are disrespectful.  
  There is a lot of good music out there with lyrics that would be considered 
  questionable in today's politically correct society.  "Mississippi Mud" is 
  another one that comes to mind.  What do you list-mates think about singing 
  original lyrics?

  #########

  The late Jack Leonard, of Tommy Dorsey fame, was a good friend of mine and once told me how he felt when the lead sheet of "The Man in the Moon Is a Coon" was handed to him at an RCA recording session for the band.

  He said to Dorsey, "I can't sing this lyric."

  Dorsey just looked at him and shouted, "You'll sing it or you're fired."

  He sang it.

  Jack Tracy