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We left off exactly 4 months ago with Kentucky, which is an interesting enough story that it's probably worth a read even if you don't care about the state song megathread https://twitter.com/sayer_of_stuff/status/1291243986405994496?s=20
Louisiana has four state songs. We'll start with, to quote Thomas Jefferson, "Give Me Louisiana".
It was harder than expected to find a recording of this.
The big question: can we get through even a single song this evening without a reference to plantations?
nope
7.8 / 10
Let's move on to the much more well-known Louisiana state song...
nope
7.8 / 10
Let's move on to the much more well-known Louisiana state song...
..."You Are My Sunshine"
wait really?
yes
wait really?
yes
"You Are My Sunshine" contains literally no references at all to Louisiana. So why is it the state song?
"You Are My Sunshine" was popularized - although not originally written - by country singer and two-time governor of Louisiana Jimmy Davis.
"You Are My Sunshine" was popularized - although not originally written - by country singer and two-time governor of Louisiana Jimmy Davis.
So, "You Are My Sunshine" is only the state song because of its relationship with popular governor Jimmy Davis.
Did popular governor Jimmy Davis do anything problematic during his term of *checks notes* 1960-1964?
Why, ...
...you already know don't you.
Did popular governor Jimmy Davis do anything problematic during his term of *checks notes* 1960-1964?
Why, ...
...you already know don't you.
Here's the best that a generally VERY favorable article from http://64parishes.org could say.
(Just a side note: "However, his stance lacked the viciousness of many segregationists holding high office in the South." is such a bullshit cop-out)
Summation: "You Are My Sunshine" is the state song of Louisiana in memory of a segregationist governor.
Thus making the song mildly racist (3/10), but ONLY in its context as the state song of Louisiana.
JFC Louisiana
Thus making the song mildly racist (3/10), but ONLY in its context as the state song of Louisiana.
JFC Louisiana
According to Wikipedia, Louisiana has a State March and a State Environmental Song. These ones are going to be tricky.
Before you ask, I am NOT digging through 50-year-old pdfs of state legislature minutes again.
Before you ask, I am NOT digging through 50-year-old pdfs of state legislature minutes again.
