# What does kumbaya mean **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 12, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319 "2014-09-12T17:42:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charmbrights](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@Charmbrights](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charmbrights)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/1 "2014-09-12T17:42:28Z")
I always understood that kumbaya was UK Yorkshure dialect “come by here” whichis expressed orally as “come by yere” and had nothing to do with pidgin unless the interpreter came from Lancashire. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/2 "2014-09-12T18:13:25Z")
It’s always helpful to provide a link to the column referenced … the entire link is more useful. > **[What does “kumbaya” mean?](https://www.straightdope.com/21342426/what-does-kumbaya-mean)** dear lord … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![barbmillikan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@barbmillikan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbmillikan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/3 "2014-09-14T03:49:43Z")
I asked Joe Hickerson, former head of the Library of Congress Folk Music collection, about this. He is also a member of the Folksmith group mentioned in your collumn. In the following discussion Stephanie Hall posted this link to a 2010 article that updates and clarifies the origin of the song. > **[FCNews32\_3-4\_opt.pdf](https://www.loc.gov/folklife/news/pdf/FCNews32_3-4_opt.pdf)** > > 4.65 MB ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/4 "2014-09-14T05:46:40Z")
> [@Charmbrights](#): > > I always understood that kumbaya was UK Yorkshure dialect “come by here” whichis expressed orally as “come by yere” and had nothing to do with pidgin unless the interpreter came from Lancashire. What on Earth makes you think that? I am not a Yorkshireman, but I lived in Yorkshire for many years, and I think it is hugely implausible. Furthermore, none of the rest of the lyrics seem to be in anything remotely resembling Yorkshire dialect. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/5 "2014-09-14T11:43:55Z")
Thanks for the info, **barbmillikin** , I’ll be sure Cecil sees it to see if he’s interested in an update. And welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards! I’m assuming you’re the wonderful Snopes, and we’re delighted to have you participate here! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/6 "2014-09-14T12:26:46Z")
Surely you jest–_the_ Snopes? And I won’t call you that in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/7 "2014-09-14T21:55:08Z")
**barbmillikan** , nice article. It states that the evidence suggests it originated in the southern US as an African American spiritual with the name “Come By Here”, but was adopted and adapted by gullah speakers as it spread as a folk spiritual song, and the version “Kum ba yah” (or Kumbaya) derived thusly. For some reason, that version became more popular over time. The article suggests the Angola connection is not justified, but is an old myth originating around the same timeframe. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/8 "2014-09-15T10:47:35Z")
My apologies, the Snopes author/owner is Barb Mikkelson, I got confused. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kumbaya-mean/698319/9 "2014-09-15T12:59:31Z")
Great article, Thanks **Barb**! Throughout my life as a musician, scout, and scout leader, I admit I have performed Kumbaya thousands of times and have heard most of these theories. While not definitively, it the the best history of the song’s origin I have read. Love the shout out to one of my earliest musical influences Tony Saletan!