Listening List for October 14, 2025

Due to beginning of year confusion and a major computer problem (since resolved) I'm a bit behind where I want to be.

Nevertheless, here is a listening list before class.

The lyrics to the songs can easily be found so I'm not including them yet.

The list has two sections. The first is:

BEFORE STEPHEN FOSTER

Old Zip Coon / Turkey in the Straw (1834)
Original (racist) lyrics:
(2nd South Carolina String Band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubXiEW40bUA


Instrumental
(Tennessee Mafia Jug Band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Ntl1uIHVc

With new lyrics:
(Andy Z)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0JlANsF9kw

Polly Wolly Doodle (1843)
(Tom Roush)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_xhgRKvQzQ

The second is:
STEPHEN FOSTER

Oh Susanna! (1848)
(Tom Roush)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lhBYeufe1c

Camptown Races (1850)
(2nd South Carolina String Band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSN5SdL_ohY

Old Folks at Home (1852)
(2nd South Carolina String Band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBcIEJ822Y

My old Kentucky home (1853)
(John Prine)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYQ4WnFG_0I

Hard times come again no more (1854)
(Jan de Gaetani)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57iE6ElmdCM

Jeannie with the light brown hair (1854)
(Jan de Gaetani)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvEA0RnX_GU

Old Black Joe (1860)
(Mills Brothers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEw3B5p0Sww

Beautiful dreamer (1864)
(Marilyn Horne)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-drAf-BQaRc

Things to think about:

Why have so many of Foster's songs survived while that of most of his contemporaries has not?

What (if anything) makes Foster's songs sound American (rather than British, Irish or other European)?

Should his, at times, problematic lyrics remain, be changed? 

Is it a good idea to project modern standards into the past?