 | Camptown Races (Gwine to Run All Night)Billy Murray |
Writer(s): Stephen Foster (see lyrics here) First Published: February 1850 First Charted: November 11, 1911 Peak: 9 PM, 3 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 7.93 video, 3.32 streaming |
Awards (Stephen Foster):Click on award for more details. 
Awards (Billy Murray):
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About the Song:Stephen Foster was the pre-eminent songwriter of the 19th century in America. He is often referred to as “the Father of American Music.” BA The Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee was born in 1826 in Pennsylvania and wrote over 200 songs during his short 37 years. BA He was 18 when he published his first song, “Open They Lattice, Love.” MF He had his first hit with “Oh! Susanna” in 1848. SS His next big hit, in 1850, was “Camptown Races.” It was first published in Plantation Melodies SA in February 1850 by F.D. Benteen. WK Foster wrote the song after traveling through Camptown, a small village in the mountains of northeast Pennsylvania. WK The lyrics, about transients who bet on horses, were written in a stereotypical African Ameican dialect with the specific intention that the song would be performed in minstrel shows, which are widely considered to have been racist. WK The song may have used Dan Emmett’s “Old Dan Tucker” (1843), which was performed by the Virginia Minstrels, as a model. BF “Camptown Races” was introduced to the public by Christy’s Minstrels and it became a hit with other minstrel troupes throughout the country. WK It went on to become “one of the most popular folk/Americana tunes of the nineteenth century.” WK The song was first recorded by Billy Murray in 1911 and performed by Al Jolson in Swanee River, a 1939 biopic about Foster. Bing Cosby, Frankie Laine, Julie London, and Kenny Rogers are among the artists to record the song. WK It was also featured in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy, Blazing Saddles, and was a favorite of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. WK The tune was used at one point for a political campaign song. SA Resources:
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First posted 11/27/2025. |
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