°-Camptown Races (1850)

De Camptown ladies sing dis song, Doo-dah! doo-dah! De Camptown race-track five miles long, Oh, doo-dah day! I come down dah wid my hat caved in, Doo-dah! doo-dah! I go back home wid a pocket full of tin, Oh, doo-dah day! [Chorus] Gwine to run all night! Gwine to run all day! I’ll bet my money on de bob-tail nag— Somebody bet on de bay. De long tail filly and de big black hoss—Doo-dah! doo-dah! Dey fly de track and dey both cut across—Oh! doo-dah-day! De blind hoss sticken in a big mud hole—Doo-dah! doo-dah! Can’t touch bottom wid a ten foot pole—Oh! doo-dah-day! [Chorus] Gwine to run all night! Gwine to run all day! I’ll bet my money on de bob-tail nag— Somebody bet on de bay. Old muley cow come on to de track—Doo-dah! doo-dah! De bob-tail fling her ober his back—Oh! doo-dah-day! Den fly along like a rail-road car—Doo-dah! doo-dah! Runnin’ a race wid a shootin’ star—Oh! doo-dah-day! [Chorus] Gwine to run all night! Gwine to run all day! I’ll bet my money on de bob-tail nag— Somebody bet on de bay. See dem flyin’ on a ten See dem flyin’ on a ten mile heat—Doo-dah doo-dah! Round de race track, den repeat—Oh! doo-dah-day! I win my money on de bob-tail nag—Doo-dah! doo-dah! I keep my money in an old tow-bag—Oh! doo-dah-day! [Chorus] Gwine to run all night! Gwine to run all day! I’ll bet my money on de bob-tail nag— Somebody bet on de bay. That was"Camptown Races", written and composed by Stephen Foster in 1850. This song was Foster's second big hit (after "Oh! Susanna") and gained immediate popularity. The tune of "Camptown Races" was even used for a political campaign song that year. Originally titled "Gwine to Run All Night,". It was inspired by real horse races in or near Camptown, Pennsylvania, a town Foster visited while attending school nearby. Some accounts suggest the races took place over a five-mile stretch between Camptown and Wyalusing. But I wouldn't know. But I do know it's a public domain song, which is what we play here on "Public Domain Radio", and here's another one!