I think this song is about how the Yankees influenced much of the south after the civil war. They are still having an influence today. The 'song of the south' used to be a happy prideful one (and full of sweet potato pie... and other good eats I imagine), even if few ever got rich.
When the northern liberal influence came down here (in part via FDR, who was born in NY), government programs such as the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) helped provide 'jobs' to people, though the value of many of those jobs was certainly questionable. The jobs resulted in a loss of the farms and the southern way of life, but ushered in Chevrolets and washing machines and other comforts of life.
But to me, the strongest part of the song is what isn't said. The 'song of the south' that was lost along the way... the grandeur, the cordiality, the timelessness that was the old south. But everyone just shuts their mouth about it ... and eats their sweet potato pie, but now, from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.
It's interesting to point out that the view of the "Old South" as depicted in your third paragraph is itself a media-created illusion. This take on the South was mostly conjured up by Southern newsmen and novelists in the 1880s. When Southerners tie these feelings of the Old South into pre-Civil War reminiscence, they are in essence fooling themselves into believing that things used to be regal and grand for their ancestors. Truth is, 2% of the population had 95% of the money while enslaving half of their fellow man. The South was a haven for elitist racists. I wonder...
It's interesting to point out that the view of the "Old South" as depicted in your third paragraph is itself a media-created illusion. This take on the South was mostly conjured up by Southern newsmen and novelists in the 1880s. When Southerners tie these feelings of the Old South into pre-Civil War reminiscence, they are in essence fooling themselves into believing that things used to be regal and grand for their ancestors. Truth is, 2% of the population had 95% of the money while enslaving half of their fellow man. The South was a haven for elitist racists. I wonder if Alabama's reference to "Gone With The Wind" is perpetuating this misrepresentation of paradise ruined by the "evil" Yankees. So when you see some kid driving around with a Confederate flag on the back of his truck, he is really saying "I miss the culture where my ancestors were probably forced into poverty by Southern aristocracy, tricked into fighting for a secessionist state that really gave a damn about them, and slavery wasn't all that bad."
but pinback .. you are missing a lot of the entire picture. You say that people have been exposed to a misrepresentation of the South, but southern pride is a lot deeper than that. There are other things unique to the south besides slavery, talked about by this song. The war was not fought over only slavery, but states rights. Blacks and whites fought for the south in search of freedom and to preserve their culture. Also unique to the South was an agrarian lifestyle.
but pinback .. you are missing a lot of the entire picture. You say that people have been exposed to a misrepresentation of the South, but southern pride is a lot deeper than that. There are other things unique to the south besides slavery, talked about by this song. The war was not fought over only slavery, but states rights. Blacks and whites fought for the south in search of freedom and to preserve their culture. Also unique to the South was an agrarian lifestyle.
Conditions in the North were not much better than the South. Does that make it right? No, but if we are going to talk about slavery in the south, its only fair to discuss the terrible industrial working conditions and use of child labor in the North.
unlike freedom lover i don't think the big bad north came and took away the southern way of life, the world went through some drastic changes especially in the 20th century. The southern US is part of the world so, it too had to change.
unlike freedom lover i don't think the big bad north came and took away the southern way of life, the world went through some drastic changes especially in the 20th century. The southern US is part of the world so, it too had to change.
I think this song is about how the Yankees influenced much of the south after the civil war. They are still having an influence today. The 'song of the south' used to be a happy prideful one (and full of sweet potato pie... and other good eats I imagine), even if few ever got rich.
When the northern liberal influence came down here (in part via FDR, who was born in NY), government programs such as the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) helped provide 'jobs' to people, though the value of many of those jobs was certainly questionable. The jobs resulted in a loss of the farms and the southern way of life, but ushered in Chevrolets and washing machines and other comforts of life.
But to me, the strongest part of the song is what isn't said. The 'song of the south' that was lost along the way... the grandeur, the cordiality, the timelessness that was the old south. But everyone just shuts their mouth about it ... and eats their sweet potato pie, but now, from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.
Great song indeed!
It's interesting to point out that the view of the "Old South" as depicted in your third paragraph is itself a media-created illusion. This take on the South was mostly conjured up by Southern newsmen and novelists in the 1880s. When Southerners tie these feelings of the Old South into pre-Civil War reminiscence, they are in essence fooling themselves into believing that things used to be regal and grand for their ancestors. Truth is, 2% of the population had 95% of the money while enslaving half of their fellow man. The South was a haven for elitist racists. I wonder...
It's interesting to point out that the view of the "Old South" as depicted in your third paragraph is itself a media-created illusion. This take on the South was mostly conjured up by Southern newsmen and novelists in the 1880s. When Southerners tie these feelings of the Old South into pre-Civil War reminiscence, they are in essence fooling themselves into believing that things used to be regal and grand for their ancestors. Truth is, 2% of the population had 95% of the money while enslaving half of their fellow man. The South was a haven for elitist racists. I wonder if Alabama's reference to "Gone With The Wind" is perpetuating this misrepresentation of paradise ruined by the "evil" Yankees. So when you see some kid driving around with a Confederate flag on the back of his truck, he is really saying "I miss the culture where my ancestors were probably forced into poverty by Southern aristocracy, tricked into fighting for a secessionist state that really gave a damn about them, and slavery wasn't all that bad."
I like the analysis freedom lover.
I like the analysis freedom lover.
but pinback .. you are missing a lot of the entire picture. You say that people have been exposed to a misrepresentation of the South, but southern pride is a lot deeper than that. There are other things unique to the south besides slavery, talked about by this song. The war was not fought over only slavery, but states rights. Blacks and whites fought for the south in search of freedom and to preserve their culture. Also unique to the South was an agrarian lifestyle.
but pinback .. you are missing a lot of the entire picture. You say that people have been exposed to a misrepresentation of the South, but southern pride is a lot deeper than that. There are other things unique to the south besides slavery, talked about by this song. The war was not fought over only slavery, but states rights. Blacks and whites fought for the south in search of freedom and to preserve their culture. Also unique to the South was an agrarian lifestyle.
Conditions in the North were not much better than the South. Does that make it right? No, but if we are going to talk about slavery in the south, its only fair to discuss the terrible industrial working conditions and use of child labor in the North.
unlike freedom lover i don't think the big bad north came and took away the southern way of life, the world went through some drastic changes especially in the 20th century. The southern US is part of the world so, it too had to change.
unlike freedom lover i don't think the big bad north came and took away the southern way of life, the world went through some drastic changes especially in the 20th century. The southern US is part of the world so, it too had to change.
@Freedom Lover i agree with what you are saying i think it actually tells about the yankees
@Freedom Lover i agree with what you are saying i think it actually tells about the yankees