Add another log onto the fire when it comes to the sensitivities and sensibilities of our collective pasts.
The New York Yankees announced this week that Kate Smith’s version of God Bless America was no longer being featured at home games after a song she recorded in 1939 -- which contained, shall we say somewhat colorful lyrics -- was recently discovered.
In addition to a 1933 song called Pickaninny Heaven (click the link for the YouTube video of this song), there also appears to be some interest in another song which contains lyrics some may find offensive.
According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees are investigating these claims and there are some conflicting notions regarding the song “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” in particular, because it was considered satire at the time and recorded with African-American artist Paul Robeson. Still, her shocking lyrics from 1939 are neither humorous nor ironic in 2019 — and the Yankees acted swiftly.
We've added a video from the recording here for your perusal:
Let's consider a majority of the lyrics first:
"Someone had to pick the cotton, Someone had to plant the corn, Someone had to slave and be able to sing, That's why darkies were born.
Someone had to laugh at trouble, Though he was tired and worn, Had to be contented with any old thing, That's why darkies were born.
Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and Sing when you're blue, Sing, sing, that's what you taught All the white folks to do; Someone had to fight the Devil, Shout about Gabriel's Horn, Someone had to stoke the train That would bring God's children to green pastures, That's why darkies were born."
Click the link here for my thoughts on this story, as they aired this morning during FIRST SPORTS!
This isn't about Kate Smith, and while I have no idea whether she was racist, bigoted, sheltered or just a singer who belted out some tunes back in the day, I'm certainly not about to pile onto the mob which wants to rewrite and recreate history.
She's been dead for 33 years. Whatever her views were during her life -- or weren't -- quite frankly, are irrelevant.
This goes to a central theme totally outside the lines of a silly tradition at a baseball games. For decades, there was a traditional song which played at the "7th Inning Stretch". It was a chance to celebrate the game, the teams and the virtues of enjoying an afternoon at the ballpark.
The tradition changed shortly after 9/11, and it was a stark and moving reminder of what occurred that fateful morning.
But I'll make the point again -- much like the so-called anthem controversy in the National Football League -- if a song is being used to intentionally divide people from their best intentions and if the song itself is causing people to act irrationally, then maybe it's not the voice behind the song that needs further investigation.
Maybe it's the song itself.
Let’s just go back to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and move on.