The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #151177   Message #3526330
Posted By: Lighter
14-Jun-13 - 09:23 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: See That Coon in a Hickory Tree (Delmore)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: See That C**n in a Hickory Tree
The robot editor at iTunes needs a tune-up.

When "coon" means raccoon - as it did originally - it is not and never has been offensive. Of course, there are single-minded people who've convinced themselves that "niggardly" and "the jig is up" are also racist, so I suppose they might object to "coon" no matter what it means.

In the 19th century, "coon" could also refer to anybody who was considered sly or tough. (Like a raccoon.) The old Whig party even had a raccoon mascot, and Whigs were also called "Coons."

Nobody said language has to make sense.