I was born and reared in Louisiana, and spent most of my working life there. Hence, it’s not surprising that i have heard the above statement many times. When i finally reached an age at which i could think for myself, i always bristled a bit upon hearing it — exactly what period in the South’s rather abhorrent history would we want to restore? A couple of years ago, hearing the statement again in Western North Carolina, i wrote an essay expressing my feelings about the subject, and published it on our intentional community’s online forum. It garnered no response, which was disappointing, but i moved on.
In early April 2016 i decided to turn the essay into a song, inspired partly by anti-LGBT laws passed in North Carolina and Mississippi, and the latter’s decision to keep the Confederate battle flag as part of its state flag. The public debut of the song was at the April Pizza Shop Open Mic in Spruce Pine. Also not much of a response, but that’s how it goes.
The line about foreign children in the last verse was originally inspired by the nearly 10,000 children who, fleeing gang violence in Central America, came to the U.S. without their parents. Subsequently it applied to Syrian refugees as well. And i’m sure, humans being what they are, there will be many other instances for which it will be appropriate.
After coming back from the John McCutcheon Songwriters’ Camp that Jane gave me for my 70th birthday, i made some changes to the lyrics, partly in response to some of John’s comments. I think the song is somewhat tighter now.
I’m hoping that, with new emphasis upon systemic racism due to the “Black Lives Matter” movement, the song will become anachronistic. But i wouldn’t bet on it.