Camptown Races by Stephen C. Foster

Album: Camptown Races (1850)

lyrics

Songfacts®:

This was written by the American songwriter Stephen Foster, who first published it in 1850. Like Foster's "Oh! Susanna," it's a minstrel song, making fun of black people in America. While this seems horribly racist, songs like this were common at the time and were usually performed at minstrel shows with performers in blackface, notably by The Christy Minstrels. In modern times, any racial overtones have been stripped from the song and it remains a popular tune, especially with children.
There really is a Camptown; it's in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and isn't too far from the Pittsburgh area where Foster grew up. The song, however, refers to "Camp Towns," which were hobo communities. In the song, the people in these transient communities bet on horse races to try and make some money.
The original title was "Gwine to Run All Night," which mocks the southern black dialect. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 3

Comments: 3

Local Yokel from Bradford County, PaNot far from Pittsburgh is sadly mistaken. Camptown is at least five hours away diagonally across the state from Pittsburgh.
Barry from Sauquoit, NySadly, on January 13th 1864, Stephen Foster passed away at the young age of 37; three days earlier on January 10th he had fallen and struck his head, he never recovered from the injury.
Chomper from Franjkin County, PaCamptown is indeed in Bradford County , Pennsylvania ; not far from Pittsburg. .. It is believed that there was onced a racetrack in this town for horses at one time ; but whether the ractrack is still there , I have no idea.

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