Replacing "Camptown Races"
Mar. 2nd, 2023 04:35 pmWe often sing/append little songs if we happen to say something that scans to "Mah Na Mah Na," "If I Were A Rich Man," or "Camptown Races". (e.g., "I have evil oversocks, doo dah, doo dah.") Yesterday, Karen challenged me to find a replacement for "Camptown Races," due to its racism. (While I don't think that original lyrics plus "Doo dah, doo dah" retain any of the racism, it's still a callback to a racist song.)
During our walk today, I realized that "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" works. However, it takes much more focus to sing that melody. I think that I have fulfilled the challenge terms, but Karen wants something that is as easy to sing as "Camptown Races".* So the challenge continues. I am allowed to put out a call for assistance. What other song can we use for seven syllable observations with accents on the odd syllables? (Can it be called "trochaic" if there's an odd syllable count? I don't know what else to call it.)
* Also, the appended "Doo dah, doo dah" may get harder to replace in my version. Obviously, a Mountain King fan could sing, "I have evil oversocks, oversocks, oversocks." But what do you do with, "When thy heart began to beat"?**
** "When thy heart began to beat. What dread hand? What dread feet?"
Help me out here?
During our walk today, I realized that "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" works. However, it takes much more focus to sing that melody. I think that I have fulfilled the challenge terms, but Karen wants something that is as easy to sing as "Camptown Races".* So the challenge continues. I am allowed to put out a call for assistance. What other song can we use for seven syllable observations with accents on the odd syllables? (Can it be called "trochaic" if there's an odd syllable count? I don't know what else to call it.)
* Also, the appended "Doo dah, doo dah" may get harder to replace in my version. Obviously, a Mountain King fan could sing, "I have evil oversocks, oversocks, oversocks." But what do you do with, "When thy heart began to beat"?**
** "When thy heart began to beat. What dread hand? What dread feet?"
Help me out here?