After 72 years, the state of Florida may be changing its tune. Florida lawmakers are considering retiring the current state song, “The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home),” due to lyrics some say are racist.

The song was designated the official state song in 1935.

Written by Stephen C. Foster, the song contains the phrase “oh, darkeys” and references to the “old plantation.”

Sen. Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville) and Rep. Ed Homan (R-Tampa) are planning to file legislation next year to change the song.

Gov. Charlie Crist may support the effort. At his January inauguration Crist abandoned the state song in exchange for a song written by blues singer Charles Atkins. It’s been a long-standing tradition for governors to play the state song at the inauguration.

Although Hamilton County is the location of Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park, which was built to memorialize the author of the state song, many people in the community are unaware of the proposed legislation. Those who are, have mixed opinions about the issue.

“Are the original lyrics offensive to some groups in the state of Florida? Probably. Has the song outgrown its usefulness as the state song of Florida? Some would say, yes, but I say ‘no,’” said Johnny Bullard of White Springs.

Bullard in a commentary written to the Jasper News said, “The lyrics of the song were written in 1851, at a time in our nation’s history when society was very different than today. In today’s world, one must be ultra careful in what one says and to whom, or one could wind up in a lawsuit or worse. In some cases, things have gone too extreme in my opinion. Nevertheless, the lyrics of this ever-popular song could be and have been altered to assuage the sensitivities of any group or groups.”

Bullard added, “If the state of Florida, however, in its wisdom, sees fit to replace ‘Old Folks at Home’ as the state song of Florida, a great deal of time and effort should be devoted to finding a replacement.” See Bullard’s guest commentary on page 4A.

Herbert Lumpkin, Veterans’ Service Officer and former teacher, doesn’t think there is anything wrong with the song. “Those words have been out of the song for a long time. I have never heard anyone sing it that way. The song is home – the Suwannee River is home.”

Rachel Selph, a native of Hamilton County who teaches history at Hamilton County High School, feels that a new song should be selected that would represent the whole state. “The Suwannee River is only a small part of the state. There should be a song that reflects the state as a whole not just the northern part.” She also thinks a contest would be a good way to find a new state song.

Former Superintendent of Schools and Hamilton County native Charles Blalock remembers singing the song in elementary school.

“It was just part of school. I didn’t think anything of it until I got older,” he said.

Blalock agrees that the state song should be something that originated in Florida. Stephen Foster never visited Florida and never laid eyes on the Suwannee River. He reportedly picked the name off a map because it fit well into the song he was writing.

Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park was opened in 1950 as a memorial to the man who made the Suwannee River known and loved all over the world. Dioramas depict scenes described in some of Foster’s songs.

Ben Faure, Park Manager, said, “Whether or not the song is changed we will continue to educate the public about Stephen Foster’s contributions to American culture. We will continue to display the dioramas and other historical exhibits relating to his songs and life.”

Doug Gauss, a folk performer from Tallahassee and a collector of songs about Florida, has mixed feelings about the song. He led a campaign in the early 1990s to change the state song, not because of any racial reasons, but because he felt it should be written by a Floridian about Florida. But he doesn’t like the idea of a contest because it would create a song that is “a product of consensus.”

“Folk songs evolve,” Gauss said. “The song could be adjusted. The phrase, `O loved ones, how my heart grows weary,’ draws attention to itself. One version says, ‘I’m lonely, and my heart grows weary.’ I think that is a better way of singing it. I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.”

According to Gauss, the Suwannee River is only mentioned one time in the song and Florida is not mentioned at all. He said Florida’s state song is one of two that does not mention the state by name.

Bobby Hicks, folksinger and songwriter who frequently performs at Stephen Foster, thinks there is nothing wrong with the song. “I’m afraid they will rewrite history until no one knows the real history. They should accept the fact that some things are historical fact and some things aren’t.” He also pointed out that the offensive words had been changed years ago. He agrees that a contest would be a good way to find another state song if it has to be changed.

Wayne Martin is a fiddle player from Blountstown who has attended the Florida Folk Festival at Stephen Foster for the past 30 years. He said the issue has been ongoing for several years and it will continue to be a point of contention. He thinks those who feel the song is antiquated or racist will continue to push for change. And he believes there is a good chance the song will be changed this time.

Martin said the fact that the words have been changed in the song show a change of opinion in people. “In so doing, we are symbolically saying we have changed and that it is not appropriate to use those words.” He suggested there could be two state songs – a traditional heritage song and a more appropriate song for state functions. (Editor’s note: Several states have more than one state song.)

Homan said lawmakers will either choose a song or allow songwriters to submit songs for a contest.

To learn more about Foster and his song go to dhr.dos.state.fl.us/facts/symbols.