[Dixielandjazz] Misunderstanding old tunes

[Hal Vickery]

The original lyrics are "When the darkies beat their feet on the Mississippi
Mud."  Ever since I have first-hand memory of hearing that song (going back
to the '50s) the offensive term has been changed to "people."

Oh, and to replay to something I didn't get around to answering over the
weekend, it's not the subject matter that is offensive nowadays.  It's the
single word "Darktown."  That would refer the African American portion of
the city, and it would be considered offensive today.

Interestingly enough the area across the Dan Ryan expressway from U.S.
Cellular Field (where my beloved White Sox play ball), there is a
neighborhood called Bronzeville.  Many think this has to do with the fact
that since about World War I, the area has been populated mainly by African
Americans.  (It's the neighborhood that Louis Armstrong used to play in and
all the kids from Austin High School made their way to in order to hear
him.)  In fact it had that name long before the black migration to the South
Side.

Hal Vickery

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of
patcooke77 at yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 2:18 PM
To: Tom Belmessieri; dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Misunderstanding old tunes

So what's wrong with Mississippi Mud?  
The  lyrics are only slightly less riciculous that Mairzy Doats, The Hut Sut
song, and possibly a few others.  
 
 Pat Cooke
 
     


----- Original Message ----
From: Tom Belmessieri <tbelmo at hotmail.com>
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 10:19:34 AM
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Misunderstanding old tunes


Steve wrote...

"Sometimes we don't fully understand the older tunes."

Thanks for the history on a couple of old standards.  I'm curious about 
others, if you have them.  However, 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?

Tom B.



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