The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #12708   Message #101664
Posted By: kris@norvig.com
02-Aug-99 - 04:49 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Long John, Chineeman
Subject: RE: old song: 'Long John was a chi-neee man'
Joe, thanks for your comments. I do realize the lyrics are quite racist, but they are one of only a few verbal relics I have of a long-forgotten grandfather. I don't find them any more or less racist than many songs I've seen (e.g., Short'nin Bread. My intent is to learn something of my grandfather's life by the sort of songs he sang, not to injure or malign any racial group. I hope that everyone who reads the lyrics can understand this. There are only 2 people living who remember my grandfather (he died in 1945) and I am trying to write down whatever I can about his life before these last 2 people are too old or ill to remember anything about him. Thanks for everyone's understanding.