Turkey in the Straw

"Turkey in the Straw" is one of the best-known American fiddle tunes, a square-dance staple drawn from an older Irish-Scottish air. Its history is troubled, though: the same melody was published in 1834 as the racist minstrel song "Zip Coon," a link that has led ice-cream trucks to drop the tune in recent years.

Origins

The melody of the song is derived from older traditional Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes, most notably the eighteenth-century song "The Rose Tree." In the United States, the tune was adapted in the late 1820s and early 1830s. Sheet music for the melody was first published in 1834 under the title "Zip Coon," popularized by minstrel performers like George Washington Dixon. By the time of the American Civil War, the song was published under the title "Turkey in the Straw," blending the old fiddle tune with new lyrics.

Meaning & Interpretation

The lyrics are nonsensical and describe various farm scenes, focusing on a turkey hiding in the straw and hay. While modern versions of the song are family-friendly and focus entirely on these animal themes, the song has a highly controversial history.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the melody was widely used in blackface minstrel shows. The "Zip Coon" version featured highly offensive caricatures of free Black Americans. Due to these minstrel show roots, the tune became a common melody for mid-twentieth-century ice cream trucks. In recent years, growing awareness of this racial history has prompted companies to phase out the tune. In 2020, the ice cream brand Good Humor collaborated with music producers to create a new, original jingle to replace the melody.

What is the origin of Turkey in the Straw?

The melody evolved from traditional Scottish and Irish fiddle tunes, particularly "The Rose Tree." In the United States, it was adapted into popular minstrel show music in the 1830s before becoming a standard square dance tune.

When was Turkey in the Straw first published?

The tune was first published in 1834 as "Zip Coon" by sheet music publishers in New York. The title "Turkey in the Straw" was officially paired with the sheet music in 1861.