Charles Darwin, the British naturalist who discovered the process of natural selection and recognized its implications, was born two hundred years ago yesterday. His epic work Origin Of Species, essentially founded the basis of modern biology.
Charles Darwin
There have been a number of musical reactions to his work and its conclusions, which remain controversial in certain circles. A couple of varying points of view can be hear here.
There Is Just A Little Bit Of Monkey (Still Left In You And Me)
M.J. O’Connel on a Columbia blue lable 78 (ca. 1914)
The only “Pro-Evolution” song I’ve ever encountered, and mentions Darwin by name.
The Bible’s True Uncle Dave Macon
A wonderful, toung in cheek, criticism of Darwin’s work, containing
one of my favorite stanzas in all country songs:
God made the world, and then he made man
Woman for his helpmate, beat that if you can!
There are more than a dozen “anti-evolution” songs out there, one great one by Merle Travis (“That’s All”), most rather pathetic and plodding, such as “William Jennings Bryan’s Last Fight”. But I think you’ll enjoy these two. Click on the song titles to listen.