<P> The creation of the song "My Old Kentucky Home, Good - Night!" established a decisive moment within Stephen Foster's career in regard to his personal beliefs on the institution of slavery and is an example of the common theme of the loss of home, which is prevalent throughout Foster's work . In March 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe's abolitionist novel Uncle Tom's Cabin appeared in bookstores in Foster's hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . The novel, written about the plight of an enslaved servant in Kentucky, had a profound effect on Foster's future song - writing by altering the tone of his music to sympathize the position of the enslaved servant . In his notebook, Foster penned the lyrics inspired by Stowe's novel, initially named "Poor Old Uncle Tom, Good - Night!" Foster ultimately removed references to Stowe's book, renaming the work, "My Old Kentucky Home, Good - Night!" Foster's song includes distinct Kentucky imagery . Foster's brother Morrison indicated in correspondence that Foster was an "occasional visitor" to Federal Hill, owned by Foster's relations, the Rowan family of Bardstown, Kentucky . The Foster and Rowan family's close relationship appears to have been initiated through Stephen's sister Charlotte who stayed with the Rowans at Federal Hill in 1828 . While Charlotte lived with the Rowan family, Atkinson Hill Rowan made a proposal of marriage to her, which she ultimately declined . Charlotte died in the home of George Washing Barclay, a cousin of both families, with Atkinson Hill Rowan at her bedside . </P> <P> The song "My Old Kentucky Home, Good - Night!" is one of many examples of the loss of home in Foster's work . Biographers believe that this common theme originated from the loss of Foster's childhood home, known as the "White Cottage", an estate his mother referred to as an Eden, in reference to the Garden of Eden . The family was financially supported by the family patriarch William Foster, who owned vast holdings, which were lost through bad business dealings that left the family destitute and unable to keep possession of the White Cottage; the family was forced to leave the estate when Stephen Foster was three years old . After years of financial instability and the sharing of memories of the White Cottage with Stephen by his parents and siblings, the impact of longing for a permanent home that was no longer available to him greatly influenced his writing . </P> <P> Upon its release in 1853 by Firth, Pond & Company, "My Old Kentucky Home, Good - Night" grew quickly in popularity, selling thousands of copies . The song's popular and nostalgic theme of the loss of home resonated with the public and further resolved to stimulate strong feelings in support of the abolitionist movement in the United States . Famous African - American abolitionist Frederick Douglass promoted the song, among other similar songs of the time period, in his autobiography My Bondage and My Freedom as evoking a sentimental theme towards the enslaved servant that promotes and popularizes the cause of abolishing slavery in the United States . Douglass commented, "They (My Old Kentucky Home, Good - Night!, etc .) are heart songs, and the finest feelings of human nature are expressed in them . (They) can make the heart sad as well as merry, and can call forth a tear as well as a smile . They awaken the sympathies for the slave", he stated, "in which anti-slavery principles take root and flourish". </P> <P> The song held popularity for over a decade and throughout the American Civil War . The song's reach throughout the United States and popularity has been attributed to soldiers of the war, who passed the tune from location to location during the war's tenure . Soldiers of the war, both Union and Confederate, visited Federal Hill by the thousands to see the landmark that lent visual inspiration for Foster's song both during the war and after . Following the war, Federal Hill continued to be frequented by tourists throughout the remainder of the 19th century . </P>

Original version of my old kentucky home lyrics