Stephen Foster - Old Folks at Home - Deanna Durbin

[rcarroll88]

Darkie, darkie, darkie. Sue me.

They ain't a 'darkie' there ain't happy.

[gluejay]

So what happen to that good old America!!?

[jakepallen123]

Comments like those of lynwood77 are the reason that race will never leave the American discourse. Our beloved America was born with this original sin, and evidently, it will never be erased, no matter how much we Americans try. Very sad.

[bojangels3451]

Haha I live on the Suwannee River!

[Cheeseburgeh]

Is this from a movie? If so, does anyone know what movie it is?

[jonmt11]

@Cheeseburgeh Nice Girl

[musiclover2636]

I love this song!!!!

[gorgenkally0]

I live way down upon the Suwannee River. Love this song <3

[lynwood77]

This is a beautiful song. However, just because the song is a sympathetic portrayal of African Americans does not mean that its racist characteristics are unimportant, particularly when the song is sung by a white woman.

[violinthief]

@lynwood77 And by mentioning Deanna Durbin's ethnicity in connection to this song, you are the one being a racist.

[CarFox6]

@lynwood77 It doesn't matter what race the singer is, and by implying that it does matter, you are the one being racist. The lyrics of the song would be exactly the same if they were sung by a black person.

[bilmar1966]

@lynwood77 Paul Robeson, African American, possessed one of the finest voices ever; he uses "darkies," same as Ms. Durbin.

[kataisa3]

Reading these comments, it really is disheartening how people today are so ignorant and simple-minded they do not know how to put anything in context. I'll bet they think "Huckleberry Finn" should be banned, too.

This is a beautiful song.

[clintonearlwalker]

Way down upon de Swanee ribber (river) Far, far away, Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber, Dere's wha de old folks stay.  All up and down de whole creation Sadly I roam, Still longing for de old plantation And for de old folks at home. Chorus All de world am sad and dreary, Ebry where I roam, Oh! darkies how my heart grows weary, Far from de old folks at home.

[ampdavolts]

I see an anti-slavery song of tender delivery. The slave-singer regales for us, of "the old folks at home", while thinking of Africa.

[Mullahgrrl]

@ampdavolts Isn't persuming that black americans still think think of Africa as home actually more racist?

[Ettoredipugnar]

@Mullahgrrl Ok so no more Stephan Foster songs. he was a racist.

[dlrunner]

@Ettoredipugnar . No he wasn't. Why don't you educate yourself.

[patarthenry]

i think racism happens when we use a name to call a whole class of people and we do not tear the "mask" or label off from the image in order to truly accept and understand.I believe Stephen Foster, in this song, tried to get behind the names into the heart.

[patarthenry]

Does anyone know how Americans of Europeon origin have been referred to in songs by African-Americans? I do not believe the words are used racially so much, rather as reflecting the social structure of those times when many Americans of African origin were hard working farm hands and house servants, and good ones .

[progressiverebel]

After. One Great Uncle thomas Bullitt Founded Louisville and another Great Grandma Mary's brother Daniel Boone well you might have heard of him. Lots of kin in Kentucky and Virginia. Thomas Bullitt was with Washington in the Virginia Regiment and "won immortal glory" saving the Army at Great Meadows. I really like Stephen Foster.

[PlatniumProductions]

and a star is born!

[alternatehistories]

What is really impressive about Stephen Foster is that all his accomplishments were made during a very short lifetime...he only lived to be 38 years old. A hundred and forty something years later...he's still having an impact on people, inspiring them. Who else can make that claim?

[KozenaFan]

@alternatehistories He died at age 37.

[tdsgnr]

Now this is beautiful, yet I cannot say I understood every single word 'cause I'd lyin'... I am mexican and even when I tried so hard, it's very difficult :/

[oreokookie1000]

Can't wait for the SUWANEE SPRINGFESTIVAL in live oak florida.....don't care much about Miss Durbin but we'll rage it good come march 24.....steven foster might show up

[MrBaloneyhead]

I thought the song did have some racial overtones in it. or so I read one time. River was originally written by Foster as "Ribber" in the song. You know, the way the darkies would pronounce it.

[Katyclarinet]

@MrBaloneyhead By you logic, Twain's novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is incredibly racist.

[LoveAnthropology]

@Katyclarinet That is true. Blacks are portrayed very stereotypically throughout many cultural icons... even aunt jemima pancake syrup, etc. !

[student908065]

@Katyclarinet because it was racist, fool.. JK :P

[mindspring57]

@MrBaloneyhead Why is it racist merely to indicate how they would pronounce it?

[mrtrivesta]

Roy and Lema Holbrook and Ralston and Gladys Boone and now Jack and Gloria Henry and also David Henry not to mention Daniel Boone. I will see you all at the river. CRB Happy New Year !

[linniesinnie]

i grew up loving Deanna Durbin & especially this song. I still play the old 78 of Mum's. It has always had a chip & thus miss the first part of the song. I treasure it. Thank you for posting.

[wowimsupercheeseboy6]

I just found out that Stephen Foster is a relative of mine. Really Cool 

[LoneTinaja]

Stephen Foster bequeathed such magnificent

music to us. May we always keep it alive and

never forget the one who gave all he had for the

benefit of the world. God bless him.

[guambetty]

That`s Franchot Stone & Robert Stack standing next to each other rockgor, & 0f course Bentchley betwen two young ladies!.. Deanna made movies in late `30`s & early `40s. I believe Helen Parrish, Gloria deHaven & she were in "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" Enjoyed it!

[guambetty]

Glad you put the "bad apple" Bradman77 in his place! Deanna Durbin was in several films, & one I recall is "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" . Any of you like fiddle playing--check out Johnny Jake`s fiddle playing video of Swanee River am sure you`ll enjoy it! Thanks violinthief

[RockBot82]

a classic that can be admired by any person that appreciates true melodies. Stephen Foster was so completely unappreciated in his day. It is a damn awful shame.

[MissFireMagic]

Beautiful singing, beautiful singer, gorgeous smile. Thank you for posting!

[awhitecat]

I presume this is from a film? What is that film? Anybody?

[Arlynn652]

@awhitecat

I believe it was in a now hard to find film, Nice Girl.

[elviejo1998]

@Arlynn652, The film was "Nice Girl" co-starring Robert Stack, Franchot Tone, Walter Brennan and Robert Benchley.

[paolonove65]

GREAT DEANNA!!! 

[jackierondael]

I do really love this song. The first time I heard this was on the tv program, a cartoon show enttitled " Jenny with the Light Bron Hair" I have loved that story that's all about friendships and the song that was sang by Jenny is this and I couldnt forget this song...whew!!!LOVED IT...

[gluejay]

In my mind and heart this song will always be Florida State song. This song is also well known in Canada, where I live.

[coventrygardens]

that's real grand. i have a special attachment to the song because i've had family living in florida ever since before the civil war. my father's father lived near the suwannee river, which is in north florida, and he moved to the fort lauderdale area in 1911.

[Bradman77]

2:24....she says darkie!....racist

[violinthief]

"Old Folks at Home", composed in 1851, was the first song written that was both sympathetic to blacks and from their point of view. It is not racist at all. For example, "colored" and "negro" used to be complimentary terms, which is why charitable organizations like the NAACP and UNCF have them in their names. Sadly, many people, like yourself, are ignorant and have kneejerk reactions, which is why Foster's original beautiful lyrics have been abandoned in the Florida state song.

[aristopus]

@violinthief Good post. The ignorance about Foster's tragic life is heartbreaking. He was one of the country's greatest songwriters and died broke at age 37. He meant no disrespect with epithets like "darkie." There's a great movie on Foster, "Swanee River" with Don Ameche and Loretta Young. Nobody's heard of it because it's be repressed. So sad.



[Spaguy62]

@violinthief Perfectly said. Stop the political correctness and the hyper-sensitivity and, honestly, the hypocrisy. "Colored" and "negro" should offend no one as people of color use much harsher terms to describe themselves and each other than the vast majority of non-black people do. Stephen Foster was a calm, thoughtful and amazing lyricist and music composer. He was the total package and died penniless. Any chance we might just enjoy the music and not read so much into it guys?

[slimepuke]

@Actually, he died with three pennies...

Who such as he, an American Hero, which in himself, found a nation, and in his art created song, can never be repaid.

[108COOLCHICK]

@violinthief THIS IS IT

[doubleghod]

@violinthief Very good, fiddler, I couldnt have said it better. I've noticed how the word racist is used with abandon. I suspect most people don't even know the actual meaning of the word. It means you feel one race is superior to another. For instance, overall Blacks piss me off and, generally I don't like being around them, but I do not think that they are inferior—I just do what I can to keep them distant.

[hamishray]

@violinthief I agree with you, when the song was written there was no politically correct brigade to interfere and neither were they around when the movie was made. Well done Deanna for a beautiful rendition of this old song.

[MalcolmExcellent]

@hamishray I think you'll find that there was a 'politically correct' brigade as you term it. It was the early civil rights movement. Anyway, the song is not racist, neither was the composer. As the others say, it is a song sung from a sympathetic perspective. When the lyrics refers to the old folks at home it means his fellow slaves on the plantation which he has left behind. In essence, home is where the heart is, where his loved ones are. Is it that really hard for people to understand

[mtsumusic]

@violinthief Besides, this song is written from the perspective of a black person in the North who is longing for the South, and he's telling other black people ("O darkies, how my heart grows weary) about how sad he is. So, if you consider what black people call each other today on a daily basis, then it's appropriate. And yes you're right - it's not racist.

[mindspring57]

@Bradman77 Back then, that was the polite form of address!

[jimthigpen333]

@Bradman77 Yea----- she should have said " Oh--- African- Americans how my heart grows weary." Steven Foster was no racist.

[number2055]

@Bradman77 yea she said old darkies but dont trip thats what they called us back in the day just like nigga jim in tom sawyer i think it is funny as hell

[alandeedle]

Deanna is so wonderful I can hardly stand it.

[sevcik2]

Magical!!

[ebbie0603nhs]

did stephen foster write this song ??

[GolumTR]

Oui.

[kiree79]

@ebbie0603nhs Yes, he wrote this and many others. He wrote ‘Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair’ ,‘My Old Kentucky Home’, ‘Oh Susana’, and ‘Beautiful Dreamer’. He actually wrote over 200 hundred songs in his day, but he died penniless.

[crc778Hypnodoc]

Marvellous, I've never actually heard a woman sing this songm darned beautiful lady she is too

[opelske]

Violinthief - I love your videos! I watch your videos on You-Tube more than I turn on the boob tube.

[RottenRon888]

Just the way I remember this wonderful classic. Wish I knew what movie it was taken from.

[youdiv]

i think its called "nice girl"..

[norizaliah]

My late father used to sing this song. So nostalgic.

[LoneTinaja]

God bless you, Stephen Foster.

[JLizard]

got up in the middle of the night and had to hear old folks at home which i played on piano as a kid. eerie rendition. i used to sing kareoke and there was an elderly couple and the lady said she was foster's great great grand neice.

[OperaBuff1935]

This is a great rendition of this timeless song by a great diva. Thank you, violinthief ,for this posting and for all the fine ones you've put on YT - both Deanna and other gems.

[alandeedle]

The most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

[opelske]

Such a beautiful voice and lady. Thanks for sharing this video. It reminds me of time when America celebrated all that was lovely in the world.

[batmanwatchtower]

Wow...love this version.

[cthulee]

do you know I live in florida too, and I heard there was a song but never heard what it was. anyone know or got a copy of it? Not that I would replace our lovely state song, but just curious.

[Corrie121]

This is sublime!!

Thank you for sharing.

[gf1001]

Of all the Deanna songs this one for me is the best it makes me tingle never was she more beautiful and the voice of angel. great posting happy memories deanna GOD BLESS YOU.

[RadioNorthSea]

Beautiful !!

[Oldsauroraman]

Thank you so much for posting this excellent rendition of Old Folks at Home! It's great to hear such a beautiful voice these days!

[ticovaldezmd]

When I was in Grade 6 (in a Philippine public school), we had an exceptional music teacher who taught us the "classic songs of the world", including those from America : Old Folks at Home (Suwanee River)/ Springtime in the Rockies/ Juanita/ Home on the Range.

Now that I've finally moved here in FL, I therefore made it a point to visit the much-storied Suwanee River. It is as charming as Stephen Foster had described. While swimming there, all I could think of was my teacher. Thanks, Mrs. Serzo

[buddmar]

What a charming and beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[xuyouqian]

if someone can tell me about where the is the singer from,florida?

[violinthief]

She was born in Canada. She moved to LA as a child and stayed in Hollywood until she was about 30, then she gave up movies and moved to France, where she still lives today at age 87.

[coquito44]

Do you know why she gave up movies? It seems mysterious to me.

[KiddVid]

Her career was built during the 1930s. She left Hollywood in 1948. In 1950 she got married in Paris.

What was going on in the 1930s in Hollywood? In the late 1940s and early 1050s, what was a common reason for actors to give up their careers and move to Paris?

Miss Durbin has guarded her privacy well. So we probably won't ever know her reason(s), but that won't stop us from wondering.

[mindspring57]

Perhaps it had to do with avoiding the U.S. income tax, which had a top marginal rate of 91% back then.

[flysandflowers]

GAWD I LOVE FLORIDA!!!! i know the lady who wrote the song that almost replaced this song

[pdxdefatty]

Thanks for taking the time to put the best version of this up. Takes us back to a time when America was young and innocent.

[tannyshute]

LOVE AND KISSES

from the Great State of Florida.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

Thanks, I had the earlier one and this nails it. A good clip to play when they turn the lights out on planet earth one of these days.

[smmp123]

Special thanks for posting this video.

[buddmar]

Thank you! This is the State Song of Florida, but politicians considered dropping it ... I think if they heard this wonderful rendition, they would have never considered replacing this lovely Stephen Foster song.

[rockgor]

Deanna Durbin, the girl who saved Universal Studio. From Nice Girl, 1941.

In the crowd you can see Roberts Benchley and Stack.

[texasoperastar]

A big thank-you!!!

[merickinhawaii]

True, thxs. for this add. I enjoy yours and Violinthief Vids. to see the versions I enjoy Thank you for great work and respect. Aloha!