The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #127080 Message #3375358
Posted By: Joe Offer
12-Jul-12 - 01:52 PM
Thread Name: DTStudy: Jay Gould's Daughter
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Jay Gould's Daughter
I'm hoping that was an attempt at irony on leeneia's part. I suppose the verse she addresses (way up above, 5 Feb 2010) is this one:
Jay Gould's daughter said before she died
Papa, fix the blinds so the bums can't ride.
If ride they must, they got to ride the rod.
Let 'em put their trust in the hands of God.
In the hands of God.
In the hands of God.
Let them put their trust in the hands of God.
I would suppose the inhumanity comes from being the wealthy offspring of railroad magnate Jay Gould. Gould's two daughters seemed to be very much in the society news, so they were well-known examples of American "royalty." I can't see it as targeting women in general - it targets insensitive rich people who just happen to be women.
And of course, the song glorifies hitching rides on the railroad - it's a hobo song. And whatever the song's perspective, it's an interesting song with historical roots. Although it may be politically incorrect, it's not outrageously so. Seems to me, it would be a shame to suppress this song. The line, "let them put their trust in the hands of God," is powerfully ironic social commentary.
-Joe-