Stephen Foster's "Oh! Susanna" is a well-known minstrel song in America, earning him the nickname "Father of American Music." It was first released in 1848 and rapidly gained popularity as an unofficial theme for the Forty-Niners, with modified lyrics referencing a journey to California with a "washpan on my knee."
As the California gold rush and Westward Expansion were underway, the song became emblematic of the era. Although Foster received a mere $100 for the song, its success propelled him to become the first fully professional songwriter in the United States. Numerous artists have adapted and recorded this song over time, making it one of the most well-known American tunes.
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