The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10906   Message #78494
Posted By: tomtom
14-May-99 - 03:58 PM
Thread Name: Suggestions for 'Ole Timey 'American Songs
Subject: RE: Suggestions for 'Ole Timey 'American Songs
Randy Newman also covered the song "Underneath a Harlem Moon," which contains the line "that's why darkies were born" (according to the song, I think they were born to sing and dance). It's an extremely rascist song, but Randy is certainly not endorsing the sentiment. Of course context must be considered. A singer's words are not necessarily to be taken at face value, even when he is covering a song. In Randy's case (and many other's), he sings from the point of view of somebody else. On more than one occasion, Randy sings from the point of view of a stalker/rapist. Without a measure of context, Randy's a hateful guy.