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The chant of “Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints” originated in minstrel shows and vaudeville acts of the late 1800s and early 1900s, and was then taken up by jazz and big band performers in the 1920s and 30s.

The first reference to “Who Dat?” can be found in the 19th Century. A featured song in E.E. Rice’s “Summer Nights” is the song “Who Dat Say Chicken In dis Crowd.” “Who dat?” was used as a tag line in the days of Negro minstrel shows. “Who dat?” “Who dat say who dat?” 

Tags:  minstrel shows featured century found summer nights chicken negro reference