OL’ MAN RIVER

[HostDave]

As we get older, we start to learn that not everything is as it might seem at first glance. For example, did you know that the 1951 film version of the hit Broadway musical was not the first time the show appeared on the silver screen? Though the Technicolor version from the 50s is probably the most famous, a 1936 film starring Irene Dunn got the paddlewheel rolling, so to speak.

It has been over two centuries since the first steamboat headed down the Mississippi River on its maiden voyage, 150 years since the era of the great cotton plantations along the mighty river and roughly 100 years since railroads supplanted riverboats as the standard form of transportation through the Deep South and the Heartland. But thanks to musicals like Showboat, we associated languid ballads with the Mississippi River and perhaps the best known of all, “Ol’ Man River,” has come to define the timelessness of the vast flow of water that shaped a region as well as the struggles of the many people who relied upon it. If a pianist in the Captain’s Bar on the American Queen tickles the ivories with the notes of “Ol’ Man River,” it takes our guests back to the mid 1800s and the antebellum era of magnolia blossoms, mint juleps, columned mansions and the whistle of riverboats coming around the bend. It is a song that captures the time period so accurately, that many guests assume its inclusion in the musical Showboat was a way to incorporate an old spiritual song from the plantations into a more contemporary production.

The truth is that the song was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein in 1927 at the same time all the music for Showboat was written. It is no older than the musical although we imagine it is a song from the 1800s. But a funny thing has happened to the song in the nearly 90 years since it was created; it is now infrequently performed thanks to its lyrics which, in the light of today’s scrutiny, are no longer politically correct. The song, if you recall, is normally sung by one of the African American crewmembers of the showboat, Joe, and was written to express the plight of the African Americans of the era and the struggle for respect, dignity and freedom. The references to the river were intended to show how the Mississippi existed long before those struggles started and would flow to the sea long after they ended. The Mississippi River “don’t say nuthin’/he jes keeps rollin’/he keeps on rollin’ along.”

If you listen to all the verses, you quickly realize that “Ol’ Man River” is one of the most moving songs ever written, by far the best in musical, and provides a brief glimpse into the lives of those men and women of the time who were not wearing hoopskirts and top hats but were the ones picking the cotton in the fields. Today, the lyrics have been changed to eliminate derogatory slang for African Americans but the power of the song is undisputed. In fact, though we associate the song with artists such as Al Jolson, it has been performed through the years by stars ranging from Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra to Cher and The Beach Boys. Many people today are most familiar with the version by William Warfield from the 1951 film. The essence of the song’s message was so poignant that “Ol’ Man River” was heavily modified, rewritten in most parts, and used as an anthem in India for the downtrodden, substituting the Ganges for the Mississippi as the titular river.

The lands that inspired the song and the antebellum environment surrounding the musical Showboat are the currents that flow through all of the American Queen Steamboat Company’s voyages on the Lower Mississippi River. The romance of the antebellum era and lively Cajun culture are found everywhere you turn. From carefree New Orleans to vibrant Memphis the fertile cotton fields, vast sugar cane plantations and imposing pillared mansions will transport you back in time as will the Civil War battlefields. Experience the soul of the Mississippi River. Revel in the sights, sounds and the perfumed aromas of the South. Inhale the sweet fragrance of historic Natchez gardens and the piquant aroma of Creole cuisine as you explore the land of bawdy blues and Southern belles. Celebrate New Orleans' unabashed and unapologetic joy in the fine restaurants and sidewalk cafes of the French Quarter, the jazz clubs lining Bourbon Street and the strolling musicians in Jackson Square. At the same time, a journey on the American Queen through the Lower Mississippi is a history lesson in the evolution of the culture of the times. It is this contrast that makes a voyage on the river so enlightening.

In celebration of this unique region, we’re currently offering the opportunity to save $600 per Stateroom* on 2014 Lower Mississippi River Cruises if you reserve your suite or stateroom by December 21, 2013. Now is the time to make plans to experience the world of Showboat and “Ol’ Man River” and to immerse yourself in the deep history of the land and its people. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.

*Book early and Save $600 per stateroom ($300 per person) on any of our 2014 American Queen or American Empress 7-day or longer voyages when you pay-in-full at time of booking by December 21, 2013. Cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts; not valid for Group bookings or existing reservations. Savings is only on the price of the cruise, not valid on taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Promotional fares and amenities are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and category of accommodations and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include air or land transportation. Port charges of $69 to $159 per person are additional and not included in the fare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.