[Alternately: “Ole Dan Tucker,” "Dan Tucker"]

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While Dan Emmett (1815-1904) of the Virginia Minstrels claimed to have written the song, this claim remains unverified. There are other published versions of the song in the Library of Congress collection which credit its composition to Philip Ernst (dates unknown), and James M. Deems (1818-1901). First published in 1843, the song became immensely popular, and along with “Mary Blane” and Lucy Long” was one of the most published minstrel songs during the period (Mahar 367). Of the versions surveyed, there is some variation in the lyrical settings, albeit the first verse consistently begins with some variation of the lines “I come to town the other night/I heard a noise and saw a fight,” while the rest of the lyrics vary to a much greater degree. Generally, the melody and song structure is consistent with the notable exception of Bruce Springsteen’s recent recording of the song which appends an instrumental interlude at the conclusion of each chorus.

Today, the song is frequently identified as belonging to a folk canon rather than to a/the canon of minstrel song. Likely due to its migration into the folk canon, the song continues to remain popular. During the past sixty years, recordings by Pete Seeger, and in turn, Bruce Springsteen have ensured that the song continues to retain a prominent position in folk canons and on the verge, if not fully a part of the canon of popular American song.

Select Recording History:

Golden Gate Quartet with Josh White. Virginia & The Piedmont - Deep River of Song - The Alan Lomax Collection. Various Artists. Rounder, 2000.

Grimes, Anne. Ohio State Ballads. Smithsonian Folkways, 1957.

Seeger, Pete. American Favourite Ballads, Vol. 1. Smithsonian Folkways, 1957.

Springsteen, Bruce. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Columbia, 2006.

Works Cited:

Mahar, William J. Behind the Burnt Cork Mask: Early Blackface Minstrelsy and Antebellum American Popular Culture. Chicago: Illinois UP, 1999.

Mark Turner