BRAVO, MR GREENHOUSE. Steven Foster was no racist, and at the time the song was written, "Darky" was no more an insult than "Black Man" is today. Let me refer you to the song, "INGDOM COMING, The year of the Jubilo", written by Henry Clay Work who's father spent some time in prison for helping thousnads, YES THOUSANDS of slaves to freedom on the underground railway. Mr Clay was a "fire-breathing dragon" of an abolitionist. As far as I can remember them, the words to Kingdom Coming, which he deliberately wrote in "Darky dialect". By the way, Dick, he was from Hartford, born in Middletown, Connecticut. (note: the "Muff-stash" was an attempt by "ol Massa, to disguise himself) KINGDOM COMING (Henry Clay Work) I Hey, Darkies, hab you seen ol' massa Wit de muff-stash on his face Goin down the road some time dis mornin like he gwine to leave dis place Must hab seen de smoke from down de ribber Whar the Lincoln Gunboats lay He took his hat an' lef' verry sudden An I 'spect he's run away (chorus) DE MASSA' RUN, HA HA DE DARKEYS STAY, HO HO It mus' be the time ob de Kingdom comin' an' de year ob de Jubilo! II He's six feet one way, two feet t'odder An' he weigh three hunbdred pounds His coat so big he couldn't pay de tailor, An it only goes half way roun' He drill so much dey call him Cap'n An' he got so dreadfull tanned I 'spec' he's try an' fool dem Yamkees For to t'ink he's contraband! (repeat chorus) III De Darkies feel so lonesome libbin' In de log house on de lawn Dey move dar t'ings intuh massa's parlor For to keep it while he's gone Dere's wine an' cider in de kitchen an de Darkeys dey'll hab some I suppose it'll all be confiscated When de Lincfoln soldiers come (repeat chorus) IV De Oberseer he make us trouble An' he drive us round a spell We lock him up in de smoke-house cellar Wid' de key trown down de well De whip is lost, de han-cuffs broken De massa, he'll hab his pay He's old enough, wise enough, ought to know better Dan to went an run away (chorus) So, how does this grab you? Does this, in the slightest, suggest that Henry Clay Work was a racist? Don't insult Steven Foster by suggesting that he was "Politically incorrect" Do you know who I think ought to read the entire "My old Kentucky Home", the idiots who run the Kentucky Derby I think Clay also wrote, "We're Coming From the Cotton Fields" Do yourselves a favor and type in, "Henry Clay Work" in the "keywords" place and click on "GO" Then revise your opinion about Steven Foster's song lyrics. He also wrote, "Marching through Georgia" and "Ring the Bell, Watchman" the origin of the sea song, Strike the Bell" Ring the Bell Watchman heralded the end of the Civil war and the triumph of good over evil. (repeat chorus)
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