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by Max Power on June 11th, 2006

Max Power

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If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares then why does he continue cracking corn and why is there a song about it?

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  • by canadianhelper on February 5th, 2007

    canadianhelper

    There has been much conjecture over the meaning of "Jimmy Crack Corn and I don't care." One possibility is "gimcrack corn," cheap corn whiskey; another related theory is that it refers to "cracking" open a jug of corn whisky; another is that "crack-corn" is related to the (still-current) slang "cracker" for a rural Southern white.[7] Another, and possibly the most popular, is that the chorus refers to an overseer who, without the master, has only his bullwhip to keep the slaves in line. Most etymologists support the first interpretation, as the term "cracker" appears to predate "corncracking", and "whipcracker" has no historical backing.[8] This suggests that the chorus means the slaves are making whiskey and celebrating. Pete Seeger himself was said to explain the true lyric was "Gimmie cracked corn--I don't care",[9] a reference to a form of punishment for something very bad, in which a slave's rations were reduced to cracked corn and nothing else. In this case, the author seems to have decided that even this punishment is worth it, since the master is now dead and gone.

    Source:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Tail_Fly

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    • I'd tend to believe Pete Seeger as over generations lyrics as well as the meanings of some songs tend to change.

      bluedog

      by bluedog on February 6th, 2007

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