[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
“Swanee River”
a 1851 popular song
words and music by Stephen C. Foster
It’s actually the Suwanee River way down in the state of Florida. In fact, this is the official state song of Florida. There were lots of ‘Swanee’ songs much later in Tin Pan Alley. This is a minstrel song but is to be played slowly for sad effect. It expresses a sentimental longing for an imaginary old plantation in the south.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Werner Tomaschewski:
Lyrics
1.Way down upon de Swanee ribber, far, far away
Dere’s wha my heart is turning ebber
Dere’s wha de old folks stay
All up and down de whole creation, sadly I roam
Still longing for de old plantation
And for de old folks at home
Chorus
All de world am sad and dreary, ebry where I roam
Oh! darkeys how my heart grows weary
Far from de old folks at home
- All round de little farm I wandered, when I was young
Den many happy days I squandered, many de songs I sung
When I was playing wid my brudder, happy was I
Oh! take me to my kind old mudder
Dere let me live and die - One little hut among de bushes, one dat I love
Still sadly to my mem’ry rushes, no matter where I rove
When will I see de bees a humming, all round de comb?
When will I hear de banjo tumming
Down in my good old home?
Sung here by Fred Feild: