Florida music teacher pushes new state song
A music teacher hopes he can convince state lawmakers to adopt a new state song to replace "Old Folks at Home," the 1851 Stephen Foster tune that has been criticized as racist.
Temple Terrace music teacher Stephen Ulrey is pitching a version of "I Want to Wake Up in the Morning Where the Orange Blossoms Grow" to replace the current state song, also known as "Swanee River."
Critics have said Foster's minstrel show tune is racist. They also say Foster never visited Florida and misspelled Suwannee in the song's most memorable line, "Way down upon the Swanee River."
Supporters Of "Old Folks at Home" argue the controversial lyrics should be — and often have been — replaced. The song was adopted by the state legislature in 1935 and has survived two previous attempts to replace it.
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Temple Terrace music teacher Stephen Ulrey is pitching a version of "I Want to Wake Up in the Morning Where the Orange Blossoms Grow" to replace the current state song, also known as "Swanee River."
Critics have said Foster's minstrel show tune is racist. They also say Foster never visited Florida and misspelled Suwannee in the song's most memorable line, "Way down upon the Swanee River."
Supporters Of "Old Folks at Home" argue the controversial lyrics should be — and often have been — replaced. The song was adopted by the state legislature in 1935 and has survived two previous attempts to replace it.