[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A fun 1921 song about the south often played instrumentally.
words and music by L. Wolfe Gilbert
This a variation Wolfie made on his Waiting For the Robert E. Lee (1912). It was written for an annual convention he performed for. He thought they would get tired of the original, so he gave them this variation in 1921.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
1. Railroad train, railroad train, hurry some more
Put a little steam on just like never before
Hustle on, bustle on, I’ve got the blues
Yearning for my Swanee shore
Brother, if you only knew, you’d want to hurry up to
Chorus
Down yonder someone beckons to me
Down yonder someone reckons on me
I seem to see a race in memory
Between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee
Swanee shore I miss you more and more
Every day, My mammy land, you’re simply grand
Down yonder when the folks get the news
Don’t wonder at the Hullabaloos
There’s daddy and mammy, there’s Ephraim and Sammy
Waitin’ down yonder for me
2. Summer night, fields of white, bright cotton moon
My, but I feel glad, I’m gonna’ see you all soon
‘Lasses’ Cakes, Mammy bakes, I taste them now
I can hear the darkies croon
I’ll see my sweetie once more
There’s lots of kissing in store
Sung here by Fred Feild: