"It didn't take long.  As soon as a song gained some popularity, song sheets came out using that melody about news events of the day.  The song sheets must've had a very short window of sales opportunities as, when the next news…"

"Al, thanks for that!  I had not thought about later musicians applying new non-rascist lyrics to the older melodies. That makes sense. Like Brian, I usually played only the melodies anyway without singing.  Lately I have been into some of…"

"I'll add that even the Hutchinson Family Singers, who felt the minstrel show and songs vulgar and racially distasteful, used minstrel melodies to which they added abolitionist words."

"A lot of topical songs of the era (in the form of song sheets) used minstrel melodies to fashion their words to.  Some of them are not so nice either but that is one way to get around minstrel lyrics if you still enjoy the melodies....and I…"

"Brian, yes I still run my mountain dulcimer site at  https://fotmd.com/ - fifteen years now, and it's still quite active and fun.  😀"

"Strumelia, It is sad that you have stopped playing music.  Some of those old tunes are nice tunes if you just drop the lyrics. I have been playing Whistling Rufus for a number of years now, but did not even know that it had lyrics. I just…"

"I confess I've not been playing music. Life has set me to various new or revisited focuses. Those weird cycles we go through in life! Though this bothers me, it doesn't seem to bother me enough to do something about it right now. 🤷  I…"

"I've kinda floated over to playing more clawhammer. Admittedly, I've neglected the minstrel. But hey, this gives me reason enough to pick it up again & start posting more videos."

"LOL. "Hoist with my own petard""

"(_)=='=~If only the best bird sang, the forest would be a very quiet place."

"I have not been here for a very long time. I have not been playing the banjo for the last couple of years. I found that I was getting worse at it instead of better, and that was discouraging. I have no group to play with, and that is discouraging.…"

"Good to see you back again, Andy.  Music is a constant exploration and sometimes a hiatus, as well."

"6-7 years ago my musical pendulum swung more towards classic style for a few years, then early jazz and plectrum banjo, and then away from banjo music altogether.It's swung back to the middle somewhat over the last few months, to the point…"

"Hi Strumelia, it has been a long time since I have been here. I started playing Bach on the banjo which has taken a lot of time and effort.Ai just got a Bell Boucher banjo so now I will be revisiting my minstrel repertoire. Thanks for reaching out."

"I just don't know how to record.  I've done it before but can't remember how and never get around to relearning."

"Ok, looks like it functions today. so....  Here's a question to any one still around- Can you give some of the reasons you think you are not posting here anymore?  I mean reasons aside from "others are not posting lately".…"

"I still check the site. Good to see some others who are still around. Hi y'all!"