De Banks ob de Ohio

[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]

A minstrel song from 1846
As Sung by the Nightingale Serenaders

The sheet music:

De Banks ob de Ohio – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:

De Banks ob de Ohio – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. We lib on de banks ob de Ohio,
    Tra lal lal la, tral lal lal la,
    Whar de mighty waters rapidly flow,
    And de steamboat streak along.

CHORUS
We lib on de banks ob de Ohio, Ohio, Ohio,
We lib on de banks ob de Ohio, on de Ohio.

  1. Old massa to we darkies am good
    Tral lal lal la, tral lal lal la.
    He gib us our close, an he gib us our food,
    An we merrily work for him.
  2. When de day am gone, an our toil am done,
    Tral lal lal la, tral lal lal la.
    To de cabin we go and hab our fun–
    Sweet music dar we excourse.
  3. Droop not, darkies, as we hoe
    Tral lal lal la, tral lal lal la.
    Tilin de banks ob de Ohio,
    To raise de bacca and corn.
  4. In a berry short time we all must go,
    Tral lal lal la, tral lal lal la.
    Back to de banks ob de Ohio,
    Our home we lub so well