That's What I Like About the South

"That's What I Like About the South" (actual title "That's What I Like 'Bout the South") is the signature song of Phil Harris written by Andy Razaf and covered by Bob Wills and Cliff Bruner. Harris sang it in the 1945 film I Love a Bandleader, and performed it several times as part of The Jack Benny Program.

The lyrics reference many different foods that are typically identified as Cuisine of the Southern United States, such as Virginia hams, candied yams, and black-eyed peas.

There seem to be two versions of this song, with different music. One by Andy Razaf and the other by Phil Harris. Here are the lyrics of the first verse as written by Andy Razaf (copyright 1944):


 * “Fried chicken, nice and sweet,
 * Cornpone and possum meat,
 * Mince pie that can’t be beat;
 * That’s what I like ‘bout the South.” (Note the word “‘bout.”)

Here are the lyrics of the first verse as sung by Phil Harris, which first appeared in the movie, I Love a Bandleader (1945):


 * “Won't you come with me to Alabamy
 * Let's go see my dear old mammy
 * She's frying eggs and broilin' hammy
 * That's what I like about the South.” (Note the word “about.”)