Stephen Foster composed the popular minstrel song "Camptown Races" during the mid-1850s under the original title "Gwine to Run All Night." The song's lyrics tell the story of transient community members who place bets on horse races to make a living. The first-ever recording of the song was performed by the renowned Christy's Minstrels, a popular entertainment group during that time. Today, "Camptown Races" remains a well-known and frequently played piece of American folklore.
Letter notes
G G E G A G E E D E D
G G E G A G E D E D C
C C E G 8 A A 8 A G
G G G E E G G A G E
D D D E E D C
Number notation
5 5 3 5 6 5 3 3 2 3 2
5 5 3 5 6 5 3 2 3 2 1
1 1 3 5 8 6 6 8 6 5
5 5 5 3 3 5 5 6 5 3
2 2 2 3 3 2 1
