It is a tradition at the Kentucky Derby for the crowd to sing "My Old Kentucky Home". It's also a tradition for the crowd not to know any of the lyrics except for weep no more my lady. It's mumble mumble mumble WEEP NO MORE MY LADY.
So as a public service for this 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, here is the late John Prine with all the lyrics.
Having moved to Kentucky 20 some years ago , you best stand as well as sing My Old Kentucky Home when in the commonwealth.
ReplyDeleteThe natives get a might prickly about that song.
My Old Kentucky Home is also a place (State Park now) but originally a plantation where Stephan Foster visited occasionally. Plantation house is nicely restored. Foster was the first great popular musician in America. People are still conflicted about his legacy. A number of his songs are sentimental odes to to slavery days leading to cancelling today. However, Frederick Douglass was a great admirer and Foster was said by some to be an abolitionist. There is some evidence that this song was inspired by Uncle Tom's Cabin. The family that owned the plantation was certainly abolitionist.
ReplyDeleteI camped at this park as a base for visiting the NRA convention when it was in Louisville.
Not a bad toon. I only ever heard a snippet of it…can’t remember if it was Bugs, Elmer Fudd or Foghorn that was singing it…
ReplyDeleteHe should still be with us, but he got the clot shot. Medical murder, we won't forget.
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