Charles Hale - At a Darktown Cakewalk (1899)

At a Darktown Cakewalk (1899) contains the oldest known reference to the ever popular tune "Shave and a Haircut. Two Bits!" although it wasn't referred to by that name until much later. Between the catchy melody, and interesting trivia, this piece will wow any audience.

Form: Intro AA BB A CC A C

"Darktown" refers to "an African-American neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia."

"Cakewalk" refers to 'a dance developed from the "prize walks" (dance contests with a cake awarded as the prize) held in the mid-19th century."

Need more Ragtime?

[VizuosoMusic]

Congratulations! You found it! Whether it's because of Kendrick Lamar, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or a History of Music... you're all here, which is pretty wild.

If you have the time, feel free to subscribe. It helps the channel tremendously and I would greatly appreciate it!

[localcrkhead]

The fact that this has so little views just shows the world still does not know the universal knock knock song

[michaeltbrown]

I'm here because, "They Not Like Us." 2024

[deez]

I’m here cause I was trying to figure out where the motif was from

[joaquinpipinich]

thanks! ill learn to knock with the whole song now

[TheRealPennylow]

I love that Kendrick’s music make people do their homework and gain knowledge on stuff fr 💛

[RichlandFord]

Kendrick is so savage for having this level of depth to his Not Like Us Dis. Shave and a Hair Cut 2 Bits. Diabolical!

[pokingotaku]

Came here after the knock knock from Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us song.

It's crazy that this song was made by African-Americans in Atlanta, Georgia to mock white slaveholders! I'm learning more and more about black culture through Kendrick's music and art, and I'm glad to be his fan ❤

[VoteQuimbyMayor]

Who's still listening to this in 2024? Legends.

[veronicalf]

I'm here because I suddenly thought, 'Why does everyone's secret knock go, "Dum dumdumdumdum dumdum"?"

[MoLaudi]

who is here after Kendrick Lamar Video?

[bamcki]

WHY IS THIS ENGRAVED IN ALL OUR MINDS??? WHAT IS THIS SORCERY???

[SkipTheBread]

Found on my journey for a shave and haircut

[blakjakgaming]

Came to this after the Not Like Us music video dropped because I wondered why tf we all knocked like this when we were little. The Dan LeBatard Show like 3 weeks ago had old man Greg Cote of the Miami Herald talk about "Shave And A Haircut... 2 Bits." So that was my starting point. From there I found a What Is Music? video about it. That gave me the original name of this song. Here I am 2:50 into the song as I type this. Shoutout to Kendrick Lamar lmao

[kayode]

I had to dj a event using a lot of cake walk songs and didn’t even know about this one. The fact Kendrick brought BACK to the music is crazy!

[WileyCane]

My granddad and my uncle used that rhythm to knock on doors. I picked it up from them.

[AngelSebastianLeon]

The extended version, the director's cut, the complete version.
Cool.

[flightj]

Dot brought me in all could say is wow 😮🎶

[yayothejowen]

Im glad I wasnt the only who was gifted by the curiousity of where the heck that knock knock beat originated from lol

[TheEarthnicity]

Interesting how we can all but lose an entire piece of media, save for a silly little call-and-response tune that caught on like jam on toast.