Song of the Week: "Camptown Races," by Stephen Foster

I have been whistling this song all week long, so I really had no option but to make it the About.com Folk Music song of the week. It's one of those songs that nobody specifically remembers learning, but somehow we all just know it. Maybe the only thing we know is the "do-dah" refrain, but the melody is always accessible.

The tune was written by preeminent American songwriter Stephen Foster (also responsible for "Oh! Susanna"), and was written to be performed in the minstrel tradition. Learn more about where "Camptown Races" came from. You can thank me later when you can't stop whistling it. Happy Friday!