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Brian 57 · 06-09-2002, 08:09 PM

I don't know if this is really what's behind it, but it's an educated guess. Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864) was a composer (Oh Susanna, Beautiful Dreamer, and others). He also wrote "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair", a tribute to his wife, Jane McDowell Foster. Theirs was not a happy marriage, and they separated twice. Perhaps GL's song refers to the separation and some parallel event in his life. It may be all circumstantial evidence, but it's the best I can come up with. Hope it helps. I got my info from this site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/foster/...p_jfoster.html

[This message has been edited by Brian 57 (edited June 09, 2002).]

06-09-2002, 08:09 PM	#8
Brian 57 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Utica NY USA Posts: 220	I don't know if this is really what's behind it, but it's an educated guess. Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864) was a composer (Oh Susanna, Beautiful Dreamer, and others). He also wrote "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair", a tribute to his wife, Jane McDowell Foster. Theirs was not a happy marriage, and they separated twice. Perhaps GL's song refers to the separation and some parallel event in his life. It may be all circumstantial evidence, but it's the best I can come up with. Hope it helps. I got my info from this site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/foster/...p_jfoster.html [This message has been edited by Brian 57 (edited June 09, 2002).]