cracking more corn

Subject: cracking more corn
From: Jon W.
Date: 26 Mar 99 - 05:22 PM

A couple of weeks ago there was a discussion on the song "Jimmy Crack Corn" AKA "Blue Tail Fly" that evolved quickly into a discussion on Political Correctness. I'd like to get back to the original discussion so I'm starting this new thread.

First off, here's an article with a different explanation of the words "crack corn" that may be a point of discussion.

Second, there are two versions in DT of this song, which are each quite different. One concentrates almost exclusively on the Blue Tail fly stuff, whereas the other has three seemingly unrelated (to each other or to the BTFly) verses which refer to birds - owl, blackbird & crow, sheldrake & crane. Any idea which of these versions is earliest? My personal opinion, and I hope it's true, but have no evidence to back me up, is that the bird version came first, is of African-American origin, and that it was appropriated by a white minstrel musician (perhaps Dan Emmett) who adopted the tune and wrote the blue tail fly words.

Any takers?

---

Related threads:

• Jim Crack Corn - Man or Myth
• Jimmy Crack Corn and I Don't Care
• What Was Jimmie Doing?
• Help: Jimmy Crack Corn
• Looking for Lyrics=Jimmie Crack Corn

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: cracking more corn
From: JVZ
Date: 26 Mar 99 - 07:49 PM

I started that thread you were talking about. Thank you for article. I found it quite interesting.

John

Subject: RE: cracking more corn
From:
Date: 26 Mar 99 - 11:05 PM

You have to crack corn to use it for chicken feed. Chickens are too dumb to know it doesn't work if you don't do it.

Subject: RE: cracking more corn
From: GUEST,Ken Ehrsam
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 09:44 PM

The answer to the burning question is simply "parched" corn. It is dried salted corn. I used to be able to get it at Wal-mart to take for civil war reenacting.

Subject: RE: cracking more corn
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 09:47 PM

As far as I can tell, Blue Tail Fly was first.