Several years ago, there was a flurry of talk about my State Song (Missouri Waltz) being inappropriate and how it was wrong for us to have a state song with offensive words--and each time I heard somebody talking about it, I asked WHAT the offensive words were and/or what was wrong about the song. I couldn't get an answer other than another round of "well..whatever the words are, it's wrong for it to be our State Song!"

So, I started searching around to see if I could find original words. The song is common for fiddlers around here and I was thinking that if it was truly offensive, I probably ought to decide whether it was a song I needed to stop playing. My fiddling was/is bad enough that I didn't figure I needed to also add the offensiveness of playing a Wrong song.

It was hard to find original words. I ended up getting to see them online but it took a few years of sporadic searching for me to chance onto them.

I was relieved to find that the horrible awfulness was dated-sentimental..nostalgic storyline that probably never happened (like a lot of Nostalgia)

I don't remember where I finally found lyrics. If it was Mudcat, it's another reason for me to be appreciative of the stacks of information and knowledge that piles up around here.
If anything I sing/play is going to be censored, I believe I am old enough to be responsible for any Fixes I may do. I'm old enough to know exactly what has been changed in a song and I truly prefer to have a semi-accurate answer when someone says 'You're not supposed to sing that song..it's Wrong and Offensive..and since your words were slightly different, you probably don't even KNOW what the song originally said..hmmph'
I prefer to have an answer when someone says 'Hey, I thought MO Waltz was supposed to be awful?! It wasn't so bad when you sang it..did I miss something?'

My non-invasive 'fix' was that when I sing it, the old folks are humming and I was a child sitting on my mama's knee.
By being able to find it for myself, I also got a chance to re-insert the second part about 'strum strum..' which I had never heard a fiddler play.

It's just one song and I'm just one person so I doubt it has any effect on the Earth's ability to turn on it's axis, but without the ability to find those words for myself, I'd be embarrassed/ashamed/slightly mortified that my State Song was Offensive. It offends ME to be expected to feel ashamed of something without me knowing what's so awful about it. I want to know the history and storylines and I want to digest the information for myself.

Hooray for places like this where folks like me can find old/original words and come to our own conclusions!

*****
Tim Leaning:
I have read that 'pikers' are/were Missourians. It had to do with Pike County, wagon trains, westward expansion (maybe gold rush?) type stuff. "Sweet Betsy from Pike" and all that.
If I understand correctly, the negative way of using the word has something to do with being a layabout, avoiding responsibility, not doing your part (this is not a proper definition..just kind of how I understand the word)

If somebody wants to correct that, I'd be glad to know more. It would be kind of nice to understand why I'm supposed to be offended at hearing the word.