If Jimmy cracked corn and no one cared, why'd they write a song about it?

Answer 1

" 'Jimmy Crack Corn' is a blackface minstrel song, first performed in the United States in the 1840s." **

"On the surface, the song is a black slave's lament over his master's death. The song, however, has a subtext of rejoicing over that death, and possibly having caused it by deliberate negligence."

"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 whiskey...."
...
"This suggests that the chorus means the slaves are making whiskey and celebrating (the master's death)."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Tail_Fly

So, they (white people, most likely) wrote the song to mock African Americans as part of the minstrel shows that were popular at the time. Imagine this playing to a largely white audience before the Civil War. What would it mean to them? From my position looking back on history, it sounds like war propaganda. For me, it's not just the slave who's celebrating his master's death. I think the "slave" represents the Union states in the soon-to-follow Civil War. As this song was probably written by a Southerner, it is a call to action to support the South.

PS This was reportedly one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite songs.
http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/master/bluetailfly5.html

Answer 2

I have always wondered the same thing. I guess Jimmy wouldn't shut up about cracked corn and someone wrote a song to let him know....

Answer 3

Mmmmmmm Corn.

Answer 4

Memory tells me that it was the author ("I") as opposed to everybody who didn't care. But, to get to your question. Back in the olden days, we didn't have as many whiz bangs such as electronic games, 'puters, digital thises and digital thats and so simpler things, such as the master going away, served as significant events in the lives of folks. Even that lengthy statement is undoubtedly more than you're looking for. So sue me.

Answer 5

His mama felt sorry for him, but had to get high before she wrote the song - just so her baby boy wouldn't feel bad, waaaah

Answer 6

It's a slave song. The slave is saying he doesn't care that his master died (or something close to this)

Answer 7

Because they got high.

Answer 8

just to рίςς everybody off.

Answer 9

Good question to ponder! hmmmm...... I guess SOMEONE cared!

Answer 10

can i get a minute to think about this?