Racist Song?

[kuhio98]

I need your opinion. Does anyone remember "Kawliga"? The Country hit by Charlie Pride in the 60's or 70's?
First the lyrics and then the story.....

KAWLIGA WAS A WOODEN INDIAN, STANDING BY THE DOOR.
HE FELL IN LOVE WITH AN INDIAN MAID,
OVER IN THE ANTIQUE STORE.
KAWLIGA,
JUST STOOD THERE AND HE NEVER LET IT SHOW,
SO SHE COULD NEVER ANSWER "YES" OR "NO."

(CHORUS) POOR OLE KAWLIGA, HE NEVER GOT A KISS.
POOR OLE KAWLIGA, HE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE MISSED.
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT HIS FACE WAS RED,
KAWLIGA THAT POOR OLD WOODEN HEAD.

HE ALWAYS WORE HIS SUNDAY FEATHERS AND HELD A TOMAHAWK.
THE MAIDEN WORE HER BEADS AND BRAIDS,
AND HOPED SOMEDAY HE'D TALK.
KAWLIGA
JUST STOOD THERE AND HE NEVER SHOWED A SIGN,
BECAUSE HIS HEART WAS MADE OF KNOTTY PINE.

(CHORUS)

AND THEN ONE DAY A WEALTHY CUSTOMER
BOUGHT THE INDIAN MAID.
AND HE TOOK HER OH SO FAR AWAY,
BUT OLD KAWLIGA STAYED.
KAWLIGA
JUST STOOD THERE, HE NEVER LET IT SHOW.
SO SHE COULD NEVER ANSWER "YES" OR "NO.".

(CHORUS)

My sister has downloaded a bunch of songs onto an iPOD that they are giving to a co-worker who is soon retiring. He is a big country music fan. She took the iPOD to work and was listening to it (earphones) to make sure everything sounded okay. She was standing at the copier for about an hour or so and was evidentally singing out loud.

When she returned to her desk, she was summoned to the supervisor's office and was told that there was a complaint made against her singing "racist" songs and that she was to stop immediately.

Your opinion?

[Corinna]

Oh good greif have we gotten so petty in this world. I love that song never thought of it any thing but a love song.

[Cataholic]

Racist? I just don't see it. But, man, she must have REALLY been singing outloud.

[Lady's Human]

Racist? Not even close.

Maybe they were just miffed by the singing....

[moosmom]

Perhaps they mistook what she was singing? I don't see anywhere that is racist.

[lizbud]

Oh good greif have we gotten so petty in this world. I love that song never thought of it any thing but a love song.

Thats what I thought too. Someone must have misunderstood the song
or some thing.It's not at all racist.It's about two wooden Indian statues
for heavens sake.

[jackie]

Haha, People are sooo careful of being politically correct these days.

It has turned into such a joke.

[Muddy4paws]

Just want to say before I post the following im not racist and it offends anyone I'll delete my post..


KAWLIGA- Maybe they missheard her singing that word, I haven't heard the song but saying that word aloud can also sound like a certain "N" word, as I've said I haven't actually heard the song so it could be prounced differently.

[Catty1]

The only thing racist I can think of here is that the words talk about the stereotype wooden Indian holding cigars outside a store.

Makes me think of the little black-faced lawn people. Haven't seen them for awhile.

If there was a song about a little black-faced male statue falling in love with a little black-faced female statue, well, it sure would rankle some people.

Not because the SONG is racist - but the statues are.

JMO

Candace

[IRescue452]

Whether its racist or not, its not a song I would personally want to hear. It does offend me with some of the terms they use, but seeing a statue like that would offend me too, whether or not there was a song about it. It just another way to spread stereotypes.

[RICHARD]

does anyone remember the Frito Bandito?


All the 'hispanic' groups had a SF over him...

what a crock....

I took the lawn gnome off my porch because I was worried that
short people would be upset.

[caseysmom]

Soooo Richard...you got something against short folks

[Nomilynn]

People need to consider *context*.. if someone wrote and produced that song NOW then I could see how it would cause controversy. But it was released years ago. Attitudes have changed a lot since then, and I don't really think that the song was written with malice, but with terms that were used commonly at the time it was released.

[RICHARD]

Soooo Richard...you got something against short folks

LOL,
I went with my GF to test drive a Toyota Corrola...

If I was in an accident, I'd have to call an eye doctor to get my knees outta my skull.

I am living in a five foot eight world.

[smokey the elder]

At an Abraham Lincoln festival my group sang some Stephen Foster songs, which we decided to "edit". I was reluctant to do this, but since the piece was to be aired on local cable, we decided it was for the best.