Did you know...
That the well known folk song, "Oh! Susanna" has a very seldom heard second verse?
Here's how it goes:
I jump’d aboard the telegraph and trabbeled down de ribber,
De lectrie fluid magnified, and kill’d five hundred Nigger.
De bullgine bust, de hoss ran off, I really thought I’d die;
I shut my eyes to hold my bref -- Susanna, dont you cry.
Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me;
I come from Alabama, wid my Banjo on my knee.
In fact, this "folk" song isn't really a folk song at all, but was actually written by professional songwriter Stephen Foster (1826-1854). At the time, racsist minstrel shows featuring white men dressed up in blackface were the most popular form of entertainment in America. Professional songwriters would commonly supply music for the shows, and would use incorrect English as a way of "imitating" the vernacular of the African Americans living at that time.
Stephen Foster
So now you know why the song is rarely sung after the first verse. Either that, or the performers change the lyrics, as in this performance by the 2nd south carolina (they sing "chigger", which is type of mite).
Also, I learned a new word today!
Flossinaucinihilipilification: The action or habbit or estimating something as worthless.
This word is mainly known as being one of the longest words in the English Language, with 29 letters. The word was created by students at the English public school Eton in the 1700s, by combining a list of latin synonyms for "nothing" (flocci, nauci, nihili) with"fication".
And, 280 years ago today, George Washington was born! I need not describe his accomplishments, but I think it's interesting to note that President's Day was this Monday even though his birthday is today. That's just because President's Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February, so we have extra long weekends year after year! Another famous individual who shares this birthday is Frederic Chopin, the famed piano virtuoso. This is one of his most famous compositions:
-Cheers!
Comments