A.B. "Happy" Chandler's Old Kentucky Home

"...and now one of the most emotional moments in sport..." ~Tom Hammond
March 2nd, 1988 -- Rupp Arena
Senior Night Ceremony honoring Ed Davender, Winston Bennett, Rob Lock, Cedric Jenkins & Richard Madison.
This was also Rex Chapman's final game at Rupp as he would enter NBA draft at season's end.

[@cynthianaslim]

My Old Kentucky Home, no matter what anyone says, is essentially a song about longing for an idealized version of your home, whether it be in Kentucky, Kansas, or California. That's why it stirs so much emotion.

[@brettmichel4540]

Today my family landed in Lexington to bring my father home one last time. Rest In Peace Dad.

[@mt22201]

I’m sorry for your loss.

[@charliejdk]

God bless your Pa. May his memory be a blessing.

[@applesauce785]

RIP Dad 🙏🏼🕊️ Glad ya posted this and such a lasting tribute

[@Solo-Road]

I'm a lifelong Louisville fan, and a proud Kentucky native. I've been watching this video for a long time, and it still brings a tear to my eye.

[@TheCatFan21]

Some things transcend rivalry. 🤘

[@jaxmatthews2748]

I am proud to be from Kentucky. I live in Henderson County, which is the same county where Governor Chandler was born. I also used to attend the elementary school named after him. R.I.P. Albert Benjamin Chandler (1898-1991)

[@charlie19692002]

If the good Lord is willing, I will return home to my beloved Commonwealth some day,and never leave her again

[@thusundi1963]

charles mcmanus did you ever make it back to us?

[@zhengdali4190]

I feel exactly the way, brother!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing.

[@daltonwilliams4883]

charles mcmanus I feel the same way 🙏🙏

[@fredschaefer9200]

You wouldn’t recognize it. They kneel for The National Anthem now. Some areas aren’t safe to go, All the farms are paved over and the streets named after horses..

[@desertgirl2371]

@@fredschaefer9200 We don't kneel at all

[@awy1977]

I've said for years this is the version they should play at Senior Night. Put it up on the board, play it through the speakers. Nobody has ever sung with this much emotion at Rupp.

[@cynthianaslim]

That's a great idea.

[@henrymagoun3230]

This is awesome! I’m a proud Ohioan, but glad to have you guys as our neighbors 🤝

[@danielkelso1524]

I'm coming home after 10 years, Kentucky

[@andrewmell9872]

Proud to be born a study son of Appalachia and Flatwoods in Eastern Kentucky!

[@mattpoole410]

Can't listen to this version without tearing up

[@soccerguyinkentucky2454]

So proud to grow up in this state and to support the winningest program in college basketball history. I love my old Kentucky home!!

[@alexischandler2927]

Cudos to him. Happy chandler was my great great uncle❤️

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

For real?

[@CameronBW2000]

Are you for real?

[@alexischandler2927]

@@CameronBW2000 yes for real

[@terrytriplett3453]

IF YOUR FROM KENTUCKY AND THIS DON'T BRING A TEAR TO YOUR EYES, YOU DON'T HAVE A KENTUCKY HEART. LOVE MY EASTERN KENTUCKY HOME. I'M FROM THE SAME COUNTY THAT HAPPY CHANDLER IS FROM... LOVE YOU KNOTT COUNTY.

[@xELITExKILLAx]

Terry Triplett Happy Chandler was born and raised in Corydon in Henderson County...

[@noahhall7172]

Terry Triplett brings tears every time proud Kentuckian

[@greasyghost]

Louisville fan, but this still brings a tear here too. He was really special.

[@larryfukunaga9250]

I revisited this very warming and emotional performances by Gov. Chandler, I realized how much love the audience had for this special guy, he must have been a great governor and human being. A Son of Kentucky and southern gentleman.

[@timgriffin715]

and a good ol' Democrat

[@brianbullard8291]

I'm not even from Kentucky. But Damm this gets me.

[@cynthianaslim]

It's because it's a song about coming home. I'm from Kentucky, but this song can be applied to just the sentiment of yearning and longing and loving to be home.

[@matthewc3959]

I’m not sure a sports team unites a state of people like the university of Kentucky basketball. We truly love our state, our people, our places, it’s our old Kentucky home. God bless the great Commonwealth of Kentucky and prosperity for all.

[@zacula86]

Wow. For those who don't know, as commissioner of the Major League Baseball association happy allowed Jackie Robinson to be the first black MLB PLAYER knowing his he'd lose his position as commissioner. Just a legend and a KY icon. Long may his legacy run. We need more of his ilk. That's some high octane ilk there though!

[@mtgdoss73]

did you mention ilk.., lol sheesh

[@mt22201]

@@mtgdoss73 what's wrong with ilk?

[@mr.billthrower7392]

@@mtgdoss73 What you mean?

[@williamlidster5850]

Go Cats forever!!!💙💙💙💙💙

[@ryaneversole1581]

It takes some major balls to sing this song that way. Especially as old as he was at the time. You haters can suck it. If this doesn't move your soul you're not a real Kentuckian.

[@raymondmccomas3710]

You got that shit right !!!!!

[@desertgirl2371]

There's Ed Davender. He had a heart attack and died

[@atlantic_love]

Okay.

[@booyabig3265]

ALVATON KY PROUD!!!!!!!!! BBN.

[@constancelena]

Amen

[@brianbullard8291]

A Tar Heel who sheds a tear for this song.

[@gdawsonnomad]

I cannot believe the strength in his voice. That was wonderful. This Louisville boy has lived in Tallahassee since 1967 and wishes that Florida had a song to match and an ex-governor who could sign like that.

[@rwh4196]

Right, I would say he has done a lot of singing, and just because we are old doesn't mean we can't still have some fun:-)

[@daltonwilliams4883]

I miss my old Kentucky home so Much... this is my favourite rendition of this song by far 💓

[@BeingRomans829ed]

Found this interesting bit of info on Rob Lock, the player who gives Happy a hug at the end: After retiring from basketball, Lock pursued his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. He is currently the owner of Waldo Wright's Flying Service where he gives open cockpit rides to visitors in restored vintage biplanes. The family business is based in Polk City, Florida and is currently the largest provider of open cockpit flights

[@warrenburlingame1172]

This song always rips my guts out.

[@sarahlaflair]

They named my elementary school after him! A. B. Chandler elementary school! Love you Chandler!❤

[@deecee2837]

Described as "one of the most emotional moments in sport," former Governor A.B. "Happy" Chandler sings the state anthem, "My Old Kentucky Home" - on Senior Night at Rupp Arena, March 2nd, 1988 - for Wildcats Ed Davender, Winston Bennett, Rob Lock, Cedric Jenkins, and Richard Madison. This was also Rex Chapman's final game in Lexington, as he entered the NBA draft after the 1987-1988 season.

[@brooklyndestiny8068]

Wow happy chandler my great uncle I never got to meet him but just wow I’ve always known my family like to sing and could sing but I never knew where we got it from and now I know

[@ballenkerr7843]

I’m not from Kentucky but it always stirs me whenever I hear this

[@seanhallahan9142]

As a Gator fan. That was cool. Good show.

[@alandemerson]

Thank you for posting this!

[@daviddrake2521]

Happy was one of my Daddy's favorites! God bless Kentucky!

[@morganwallace1302]

Love my old Kentucky home

[@warrenburlingame1172]

This song still gives me goosebumps

[@empirestate8791]

Never knew that Happy was such a good singer!

[@_ya9282]

Although I'm not from Kentucky, this video arouses many emotions and sentiments. Amazing!

[@therealhypehype5617]

Mucha mucha passion!!!college basketball Greatest tradition!

[@nookam]

I was at this game with my now ex wife and ex brother and sister in law. Everyone for the most part were wiping tears away. Oklahoma was highly ranked and my memory is that we beat them.

[@benjamingraft9942]

If the date of this game is in fact March 2nd, 1988 then the game was UK vs Georgia (unranked) and the final score was UK 80 - 72 UGA. However, I think you may be correct because someone is wearing an Oklahoma sweatshirt in the crowd (which would be a weird coincidence) because in the 1986-1987 season we played Oklahoma #12 and won by a single point 75-74 on Senior Night.

[@donvanzant6114]

We were there. That was the night I became a Kentuckian.

[@CoxJoxSox]

Beautiful job

[@philipcarpenter6430]

Oh, the sun shines bright On my old Kentucky home 'Tis summer, The old folks are gay Well, the corn top's ripe And the meadow's in the bloom While the birds make music All the day Weep no more, my lady Oh, weep no more, today We sing one song For my old Kentucky home For my old Kentucky home Far away. Well, the young folks roll All around the cabin floor They're merry, all Happy and bright By 'n by hard times will A-come a-knockin' at my door Then my old Kentucky home Good night Weep no more, my lady No, weep no more, today We sing one song For my old Kentucky home For my old Kentucky home Far away. Weep no more, my lady Oh, weep no more, today We sing one song For my old Kentucky home For my old Kentucky home Far away. For my old Kentucky home Far away

[@constancelena]

I no longer live in KY, not by choice and when I hear this song, I usually tear up, I miss my old Kentucky home

[@liberTvalance]

still makes my hair stand up. dang this was emotional.

[@jamedlock83]

This is ya'lls song. . . . I'm in Arkansas and our state song is "Arkansas, You Run Deep In Me" . . . . .

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

I was at that game… maybe the last time Happy sang at senior night. No one knew for sure at the time that it would be Rex Chapman’s last home game; think he was the first Kentucky player to turn pro as a sophomore.

[@tylernice2138]

Absolutely electric

[@charlenechak6729]

I love this

[@MrRrusiii]

What a blessing it is to be Kentuckian

[@giselacreutzburg4524]

Ich liebe diesen Song

[@UPGF54860]

Is somebody dicing onions around here?

[@reeree0813]

Must be dicing onions here too!

[@EdwardOwen]

It's Derby Day! Always have to relive a few Kentucky memories on that day.

[@ThroughKinAndClan]

I cried.

[@IU90]

None of UK's best players today ever get to experience this in the Calipari era, since the young mercenaries are all off to the pros long before their senior year.

[@johnbbolton]

He is absolutely right, just because you don't understand some of the words doesn't mean he is wrong.

[@hanklogsdon8390]

Wow!!

[@brycecswt2247]

Crying

[@MarcusAurelius7777]

I'm from TN & respect KY for horses & college basketball, just not pro sports.

[@chadwhite7290]

Rex Chapman in the stands

[@marcusbowen6010]

One of my favorite teams. Screwed by the NCAA having to play all those SEC teams a fourth time.

[@larryfukunaga9250]

I'm not from Kentucky but the Governor's rendition made me mist up a bit, I go a long way back with this S. foster masterpiece having played it on my harmonica as a kid in Honolulu. It's sad the1986 Leg was compelled to change the lyrics for political correctness, Foster was sympathetic to Blacks and against slavery, this is evident in his other compositions. This will live on as a song telling a chapter of American history during Civil War times!

[@FRAGIORGIO1]

-- Better, Before the Civil War. Collins was from Pittsburgh, just up the Ohio from Kentucky.

[@cynthianaslim]

It was progressive at the time it was written. To perpetuate slavery you had to dehumanize the ones you enslaved. By showing a family loving one another through good times and bad, it destroyed that dehumanizing narrative. My Old Kentucky Home is about missing home. Everyone can relate to that.

[@hom859]

@1:20 is that Romeo Crennel to the right???

[@garretthenning8262]

Life long Kentuckian sitting here with some bourbon crying

[@dro3838]

You may be right, but they will be a part of the University of Kentucky and they, and more than a few others, will graduate and represent the state and university well. And before you throw off a flippant comment about UK grads, let me say that my UK grad (daughter) is dynamic and will blow you away when you see her making a career (thanks to the Patterson School})

[@chadwhite7290]

Master blaster

[@chadwhite7290]

Ed davender

[@chadwhite7290]

Rob Lock

[@chadwhite7290]

Cedric Jenkins

[@HalianTheProtogen]

@rustyspoke Former Governor and former Commissioner of Baseball.

[@rev.andyh.1082]

Fun Fact: Anyone who runs for the governorship of Kentucky is required to be able to sing this song before being sworn into office.

[@chadwhite7290]

Winston Bennett

[@brianchandler1966]

The Governor

[@ellaburge1]

THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN YOU KNOW WE NEED TO SEND SOME JOKES AROUND THINGS ARE GETTING "TOO CLOSE TO HOME" i'M 84 YOU KNOW lOTS OF LOVE AND THANKS AND BEST WISHES

[@andyclinton2109]

Hello Ella how are you doing today?

[@BeingRomans829ed]

I think Gov. Chandler was 89 in this video.

[@nookam]

Is Happy in the rafters? He should be!

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

He was sorta “cancelled” shortly after this due to his remarks about Zimbabwe.

[@waitinon8]

God bless the Kentucky Wildcats! #8

[@eloidomusical]

Yo tengo una moneda de esas

[@FRAGIORGIO1]

--Quieres decir que tienes "quartters" de 25 centesimos con la figura de Kentucky ?

[@eloidomusical]

Una moneda con el tema de la cancion

[@eloidomusical]

@@FRAGIORGIO1 una moneda con el tema de la cancion

[@FRAGIORGIO1]

@@eloidomusical --Oh, si', estuve de Lento a entender. Gracias !

[@eloidomusical]

Si le interesa se la regaló por su palabra veo que le Rescuerda algo

[@andrewbeck4854]

It’s so dusty in here

[@kygemini90]

@jwhite0105 and no... i didn't mean my statement as conveyance that you were being racist. lol.

[@TheShadowlin]

He says the "people are gay" grow up and get off our wave.

[@atlantic_love]

Nice troll attempt, loser.

[@olekycolonel]

Yeah forced to play Basketball for about 5 million a year, and of course none can ever come back again to get a degree.

[@gregmartin2498]

No, there is a lifetime scholarship set up at UK to allow former basketball player to return and complete their degreee.

[@xcalabur18]

I'm not a liberal by any means, but kinda awkward to watch all the black players stand and begrudge a song that was literally about slavery being sung by an obvious Jim Crow politician. Just saying.

[@jeffsullivan2721]

Happy Chandler was the MLB commissioner who integrated the game of baseball. Many team owners pushed him to not allow it. He did what he believed was right. We got Jackie Robinson. He was a good man. Lots of historians believe the song is deeply anti slavery. Even suggesting that the song may have been controversial when it was written.

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

@@jeffsullivan2721Yes, the original title was “Old Uncle Tom, Good Night” and it reflected Stephen Foster’s abolitionist sympathies. The second and third verses of the song were basically the “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” story, where he has to leave Kentucky because he gets sold down the river to the cane fields of Louisiana.

[@allendefullismkinsshi5881]

this is awful NAPPY ROOTS

[@jeannie431]

i keep laghing at the end im so sorry but i just do old men should not sing like that....!

[@andyclinton2109]

Hi Carla how are you doing today?

[@charlenechak6729]

I love this

[@andyclinton2109]

Hello Charlene how are you doing today?

[@brianchandler1966]

The Governor