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Undertoad · 04-20-2019, 11:59 AM

You don't suppose the Yankees did this to troll the Flyers...?

The lyrics Google coughs up, suggest the first bit of the YouTube above is an introduction. And, wildly, the YouTube cuts off in the middle of the song, in exactly the wrong place.

~

Someone had to pick the cotton,
Someone had to pick the corn,
Someone had to slave and be able to sing,
That's why darkies were born;

Someone had to laugh at trouble,
Though he was tired and worn,
Had to be contented with any old thing,
That's why darkies were born; <---- YouTube video cuts off here !!

Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and
Sing when you're blue,
Sing, sing, that's what you taught
All the white folks to do;

Someone had to fight the Devil,
Shout about Gabriel's Horn,
Someone had to stoke the train
That would bring God's children to green pastures,
That's why darkies were born.

~

So. I think the song is using the word "darkies" in a satirical sense. The song is sympathetic to black people, and that is the only way Robeson can sing it too.

I think in 1930s culture it is a celebration of black people. Especially if it's a white woman who is actually singing the line that says black people taught white people to sing. You taught us how to do that, and look, I am doing it now, she is saying, in effect. That is a very interesting artistic statement.

But, I could be wrong!

04-20-2019, 11:59 AM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	You don't suppose the Yankees did this to troll the Flyers...? The lyrics Google coughs up, suggest the first bit of the YouTube above is an introduction. And, wildly, the YouTube cuts off in the middle of the song, in exactly the wrong place. ~ Someone had to pick the cotton, Someone had to pick the corn, Someone had to slave and be able to sing, That's why darkies were born; Someone had to laugh at trouble, Though he was tired and worn, Had to be contented with any old thing, That's why darkies were born; <---- YouTube video cuts off here !! Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and Sing when you're blue, Sing, sing, that's what you taught All the white folks to do; Someone had to fight the Devil, Shout about Gabriel's Horn, Someone had to stoke the train That would bring God's children to green pastures, That's why darkies were born. ~ So. I think the song is using the word "darkies" in a satirical sense. The song is sympathetic to black people, and that is the only way Robeson can sing it too. I think in 1930s culture it is a celebration of black people. Especially if it's a white woman who is actually singing the line that says black people taught white people to sing. You taught us how to do that, and look, I am doing it now, she is saying, in effect. That is a very interesting artistic statement. But, I could be wrong!