America Sings first section showcases the songs of the Southern United States, where popular music began, dramatically shifting the focus of music from classical composers to the melodies of the common man. It was also during this period that the nationalism movement began, and fully orchestrated arrangements of folk tunes began cropping up.
Just a little warning: some lyrics are a tad racist.
"Dixie", traditionally attributed to one Dan Emmett, 1859. Wikipedia, as usual, provides a detailed history that I couldn't possibly summarize.
"Li'l Liza Jane", first published in 1916 and attributed to Countess Ada de Lachau, which is certainly more recent than the Imagineers probably thought it was. After looking them up, apparently the DeZurik Sisters specialized in this bizarre clucking yodel.
"Camptown Races", another classic from Stephen Foster, 1850. Doo dah!
"My Old Kentucky Home", written by, you guessed it, Stephen Foster in 1853.
"Polly Wolly Doodle", a traditional song, sometimes attributed to the aforementioned Dan Emmett, first published in 1880.
"I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again", which as near as I can tell, is an old blues tune.
"Down in the Valley" aka "Birmingham Jail", another folk song.
"Down by the Riverside" aka "Gonna Lay Down My Burden" aka "Ain't Gonna Study War No More", a gospel number, first published 1927.
Next- The OOOOOLLLLLD WEST!
...where the meanest villains run like wild animals! Terrorizin'... er... ahem.
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