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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

New Song Is Horrible

Regarding "Don't Abandon Suwannee River" (Commentary, Feb. 10):

Peter Gallagher's commentary hit the ball out of the park. Our state song, "Old Folks at Home," not only is universally known and related to Florida, but is part of our heritage. Besides, the new song is horrible.

HARVEY D. FREE

Apollo Beach

Nothing Florida About It

As a lifelong Floridian, I am moved to address the misperceptions contained in Peter Gallagher's opinion piece. Gallagher posits not a single sound argument for retaining Florida's current state song, Stephen C. Foster's "Old Folks at Home." He both miscasts the facts and, apparently unintentionally, makes the case for a new Florida song.

Let us consider, as Gallagher does not, that "Old Folks at Home," aka "Swanee River," simply is not a Florida song. Foster was a non-Floridian songwriter. He had no connection to, much less affection for, the state, its history or its traditions.

Gallagher takes Charlie Crist to task for gamely putting the ball into play when he declined to include a truly un-Florida song in his inauguration ceremony. The governor may have been born outside the state, but he was reared and educated, as I was, in St. Petersburg. MELODY JAMESON

Sun City Center

Keep 'Swanee River'

I agree with Peter N. Gallagher that we should keep "Swanee River" as our state song.

Now, I am well aware of the concern that the lyrics might be offensive to some. But, more correctly, it should be "might have been" - past tense. The lyrics as shown on Florida's Web page have "o brothers," rather than the original "o darkeys." Let's deal with what is, not what was.

And have you listened to the potential replacement? I'll temper my comments and just say it's not what I expect in a state song.

ERNEST LANE

Trinity

No Need For New Song

Although state Rep. Ed Homan lives in Tampa - near the Gulf - the song that he and Hill are touting as a new state song, and which they are touting as being representative of all Florida, refers to the ocean but makes no mention of the Gulf. If a song is to be representative of all Florida, then what happened to the Gulf? I've said it from the start of the campaign to replace the song, and I'm still saying it: A few words of "Old Folks at Home" need to be officially updated. That's all that needs to happen. There is absolutely no need for a new state song! The campaign was ill-advised and so is this proposed bill.

GLORIA HOLLOWAY

Tampa

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