I learned it in elementary school in NJ as ‘Turkey in the Straw,’ with no lyrics, just a 17th or 18th c. group figure dance. I have zero attachment to it. But many folk tunes have variant lyrics and have been put to variant uses (see the origins of ‘Ring Around the Rosie,’ ‘Eenie Meenie Miney Moe,’ -- or the tune of ‘Hatikvah’). Musicologically, it’s a slippery slope, and seems a hard point to argue historicallly: one usage may pre-date a later adaptation; others may succeed that; and there are no lyrics attached to the ice cream truck version.
I think my point is that with this particular song, there is no slippery slope. It has been deeply rooted in minstrelsy since it traveled to the U.S. Seems pretty easy to trash it for a better tune.
Great piece, Andy. I just want to note that in NYC (and perhaps elsewhere), Mister Softee trucks have their own jingle that is not based on the racist progeny of Turkey in the Straw.
I learned it in elementary school in NJ as ‘Turkey in the Straw,’ with no lyrics, just a 17th or 18th c. group figure dance. I have zero attachment to it. But many folk tunes have variant lyrics and have been put to variant uses (see the origins of ‘Ring Around the Rosie,’ ‘Eenie Meenie Miney Moe,’ -- or the tune of ‘Hatikvah’). Musicologically, it’s a slippery slope, and seems a hard point to argue historicallly: one usage may pre-date a later adaptation; others may succeed that; and there are no lyrics attached to the ice cream truck version.
I think my point is that with this particular song, there is no slippery slope. It has been deeply rooted in minstrelsy since it traveled to the U.S. Seems pretty easy to trash it for a better tune.
Great piece, Andy. I just want to note that in NYC (and perhaps elsewhere), Mister Softee trucks have their own jingle that is not based on the racist progeny of Turkey in the Straw.
Listen here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oEJyOqpAPzU
Mister Softee for the win. Hope all is well with you!