TransWikia.com

What does "done wore out one" refer to in casual Southern US American?

English Language & Usage Asked by Mihcael M. on February 23, 2021

In the highly racist and despicable, although humorous, song "Alabama n-word", apparently from the 1960s in the Southern USA, at 1:30 into the song, the lyrics go like this:

I’m glad this tune came along; we done wore out one n-word song.

(All instances of "n-word" in this question is actually the offensive word itself.)

Is this meant to refer to them having previously only sung/played the same one song about n-words, thus happy that they now came up with a new tune for a new song?

Or does it mean (as I always assumed until today) that they refer to having created so many songs about n-word that they are happy that this new tune came along, them finally gaining some inspiration after the "artistic block"?

Basically, is the "one" used as part of an expression/filler word, or does it refer to literally one (song)?

PS: I can’t tell who made/sung the song; I believe it’s miss-attributed to "Johnny Rebel".

One Answer

Insertion of the word "done" before the main verb of a simple past is a common part of some southern dialects. The meaning isn't changed - it's simply an intensifier.

So "We done wore out one song" means the same as "we wore out one song", except more emphatically.

Answered by DJClayworth on February 23, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP