Old Folks at Home

Representative Text

1 Way down upon de Swanee River,
Far, far away,
Dere's wha my heart is turning ever,
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,
Ev'rywhere I roam;
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home.

2 All roun' de little farm I wander'd,
When I was young;
Den many happy days I squander'd,
Many de songs I sung.
When I was playing wid my brother,
Happy was I;
Oh! take me to my kind old mother,
Dere let me live and die. [Chorus]

3 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 roun' de comb?
When will I hear de banjo tumming,
Down in my good old home? [Chorus]

Source: Seth Parker's Hymnal #208

Author: Stephen C. Foster

(no biographical information available about Stephen C. Foster.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Way down upon the Swanee river
Title: Old Folks at Home
Author: Stephen C. Foster
Language: English
Refrain First Line: All the world is sad and dreary
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 15 of 15)
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Jubilee Spirituals #191

Jubilee Spirituals #111

New Songs Supreme #111

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Sacred and Secular Selections #121

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Songs for Army and Navy #149

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Seth Parker's Hymnal #208

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Songs and Music #88

Adult Bible Class Hymnal No. 1 #138

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Advent Songs #26b

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The Chapel Hymnal #S2

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The Service Song Book #205

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Fillmores' Women's Choir, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Combined #115

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Songs of Service #131

Songs of Service. Rev. ed. #a131

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The Assembly Hymn and Song Collection #222

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