square from Delaware (1939)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

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1939 _New York Amsterdam News_ [Dan Burley's "Backdoor Stuff"] 27 May
20/1 "Lawd! I'm a square from Delaware, a Lane from Spokane, a killer
from Manila and a Home from Rome," Allen Drew beats out.
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1940 _New York Amsterdam News_ 2 Mar. 21/2 So don't be the "square
from Delaware," just lace up your boots and "dig this jive."
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Also c. 1940, Fats Waller released a song called "(You're a) Square
>From Delaware" (Bluebird B-10730, B-side of "Send Me Jackson"). And I
believe the expression shows up in the 1941 movie _Ball of Fire_. Is
this the origin for "square" = 'unhip person'?


--Ben Zimmer

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