I was glancing through the threads for 'Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair' and hope it is not too late to revise the subject - I have only recently registered at Mudcat.

I have a CD of an American tenor, Douglas Jimerson, who very clearly sings "Jenny" although the track listings call it up as "Jeanie". I understand the Foster family always sang the lyric as 'Jenny with the Light Brown Hair'. The lady in question was, quite definitely, Foster's wife Jane, who left him several times due to his problems with alcohol. On the third occasion she left him for good. It was during one of her "walk-outs" that Stephen apparently wrote the famous verses.

My own favourite interpreter of Foster songs is the American baritone Thomas Hampson. On his album I regard the song 'Comrades, Fill no Glass for Me' as being very poignant, reflecting on Stephen Foster facing his serious drink problem with considerable dignity and integrity. Alas, Hampson doesn't include 'Old Dog Tray' on this CD.

NRP3.

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Jimerson recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dyDx2mqNo