Hugh Laurie: Swanee River

Florida's state song is "Old Folks At Home," more popularly known as "Swanee River." It was one of the better known songs by America's first composer of popular tunes, or should I say, pop music. That writer was of course Stephen Foster.

The original lyrics are racist by the contemporary definition, but they've been cleaned up for modern ears. Much of Foster's work was written for blackface minstrel shows. In the 19th-century this was mainstream entertainment.

We've progressed a great deal since then.

Still, I feel that Florida before long will be compelled to chose a new state song.

Here is, Hugh Laurie, the accomplished British actor, singing "Swanee River."