ANOTHER MUSICAL MUSING, 23 June 2023–A Southern State of Mind

Over the past several years of my musical musings, I often thought about taking a swing through the USA to see what the various states have to offer in the way of songs. I’m sure that would quite a few would pique my benignly eccentric taste in music.  So, thinking about these hot and humid Summer here in New England (Yes, we do get a few!), I started to think about some of the states of the “Old South” as a place to take on some stream.

Needless to say, there is a plethora of songs that have emerged from that part of the country. Some, of course, originated there; most, however, were conceived by our friends in Tin Pan Alley who never got farther south than the tip of Manhattan. Go figure!

On the other hand, this song was written back in 1937 by the Black poet and composer Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo, originally from the South, known simply on Tin Pan Alley as Andy Razaf. No slouch of a songwriter, he collaborated with Fats Waller and brought us standards including “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Ain’t Misbehavin‘.”

“That’s What I Like About the South,” condsidered a novelty number by many, made the vaudeville and club scene of the day. It then became the signature song for the radio comedian and band leader Phil Harris who recorded this back in 1947. Remember him on the Jack Benny radio show? Born in Indiana but raised in Tennessee, he does have some cred as a southerner. Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a laugh and listen.

Anyway, doing a song search through the southern states brings up dozens if not hundreds of songs. These range from reminiscences of the sweet old days of yore . . .

. . . to remembrances of sweethearts (or liaisons) past, present, and future. 

But, gentle readers, we do have a bit of a problem here.  Sadly, much of the “southern sheet music” of those days incorporated a lot of inferences and illustrations that today can only be politely described as “politically incorrect.” Some are actually “politically cringeworthy” and won’t find a place in my simple musings. Just a taste of the more benign, however . . .

Alas, such were the songs that many of the sheet music or record buying–and parlor piano playing–folks in those days found entertaining. 

Those were the days of racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural stereotypes readily accepted by too many and seen as hurtful by too few. In those days, folks laughed at them; in these days we learn from them—hopefully.

Many scholars of both history and music have written well researched and profusely illustrated articles and books on the subject.  All you have to do is Google, or head to the library to study this at your leisure.  Here’s a good book to start with.

Suffice it to say, we’re not going way, way over to the unsunny side of the street in these little weekly musings of mine.  After all, it’s 2023, not 1923 or, for that matter, 1863!

Moving on . . .

As a politically in-the-news state, particularly for the next year or so, I thought we might start our little tour of the South with a peek at Georgia.  Why not?

Probably the biggest category of early songs with “Georgia” in the title tell about folks who left the state—for whatever reason—and feel the urge to head back “home.”  And then there are folks nostalgic about those pretty girls named “Georgia.” Perhaps a bit of both!

Songwriters also had a bit of a josh with the state. Here’s a song that’s kind of fun.

Click or tap on the next image or link for a listen to this early recording by the popular singing Boswell Sisters from 1932:

Now let’s take a look and listen to probably the greatest of all “Georgia songs,“ the one appropriately titled: “Georgia On My Mind.”  

This is a song written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell (both from Indiana!) and first recorded in 1930. 

Click or tap on the triangle in the next image or link to hear the 1930 recording by Carmichael with Bix Beiderbecke on trumpet.

Here’s another take on our tune from the 1930s, this time from the distaff side. Click or tap on the triangle in the next image or link to hear a rendition of our song by Billie Holiday.

Needless to say, this song has found a home in Georgia and the 1960 Ray Charles (born in Georgia!) version has been designated as the official state song.

For a fun mix of performers of our song, here is Ray Charles and Willie Nelson making rather free with Carmichael’s original melody. Click or tap on the triangle in the next image or link for a vocal.

Most of the recent recordings of “Georgia on My Mind” tend to leave out the intro verse. Here it is for those of you would like a bit more lyrical context, and, perhaps, to join Hoagy at his bronze piano.

“Melodies bring memories
That linger in my heart
Make me think of Georgia
Why did we ever part?
Some sweet day when blossoms fall
And all the world’s a song
I’ll go back to Georgia
‘Cause that’s where I belong.” Georgia, Georgia . . .

So, as we move along through the next politically disconcerting year or so, it won’t hurt to keep Georgia on our minds, musically at least!

Oh, why not one more?

Click or tap on the next image or link for this peachy song about the Peach State, with tenor banjos if not ukuleles:

Stay safe, stay glued to the news, stay as masked as you need to be, . . .

. . . and STAY TUNED!

Even Georgia is not the way it was and, in the words of another song, “The Times They Are A’Changin.”

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