“My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!” was written by Stephen Foster in 1853 and was adopted by Kentucky as its state song in 1928. It is said to have been inspired by his visit to Federal Hill, the Bardstown home of his Rowan cousins. Federal Hill is now a part of My Old Kentucky Home State Park.
Make sure you print this page and have the copies distributed to your guests in time to sing along before the race starts.
My Old Kentucky Home
The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
’tis Summer, the people are gay,
the corn top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom
while the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
all merry, all happy, and bright.
By’n by hard times comes a-knocking at the door,
then my old Kentucky home, good night.
Chorus:
Weep no more, my lady,
oh weep no more today.
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
for the old Kentucky home far away.