I Am Thinking Of My Pickanniny Days

Album: Ragtime (1902)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The misspelling of picaninny is far from the most doubtful feature of this Scott Joplin composition; as of January 2011, the British Library catalogue contained no less than five "picaninny songs" with the same spelling, all from the same period. The lyrics were supplied by Henry Jackson, an acquaintance of Joplin from Sedalia.

    It should be pointed out that in Joplin's era neither the word picaninny (however it was spelt) nor darkey - as used in the song - had the pejorative connotations that would later be attached to them.
  • Content-wise, the song is similar to the James Bland classic "Carry Me Back To Old Virginny," though the piano music is much darker (no pun intended). The sheet music was published by Thiebes-Stierlin in 1902. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.