Poor Gal by Dan Gutstein PAPERBACK 9781496849359

University Press of Mississippi

Poor GalThe Cultural History of Little Liza Jane\nAuthor(s): Dan Gutstein\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: University Press of Mississippi, United States\nImprint: University Press of Mississippi\nISBN-13: 9781496849359, 978-1496849359\nSynopsis\nPoor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane chronicles the origins and evolution of a folk tune beloved by millions worldwide. Dan Gutstein delves into the trajectory of the \""Liza Jane\"" family of songs, including the most popular variant \""Lil Liza Jane.\"" Likely originating among enslaved people on southern plantations, the songs are still performed and recorded centuries later.\n\nEvidence for these tunes as part of the repertoire of enslaved people comes from the Works Progress Administration ex-slave narratives that detail a range of lyrics and performance rituals related to \""Liza Jane.\"" Civil War soldiers and minstrel troupes eventually adopted certain variants, including \""Goodbye Liza Jane.\"" This version of the song prosper.