A popular song from 1860
Words and music by Stephen C. Foster
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Werner Tomaschewski:
Lyrics
1. Once I could laugh and play
When in life’s early day
Then I was far away
Down among the cane-brakes
Chorus
Down among the cane-brakes on the Mississippi shore
Oh! those happy days, those happy days are o’er
Oh! those happy days will come back no more
2. Yes I was free from care
All was bright summer there
Dark days to me were fair
Down among the cane-brakes
3. There lived my mother dear
(Gone from this world I fear)
There rang our voices clear
Down among the cane-brakes
4. There lived a lovely one
Who like the rest has gone
She might have been my own
Down among the cane-brakes
5. Long years have glided by
Since then I breathed each sigh
May I return to die
Down among the cane-brakes
Sung here by Fred Feild: