Oh! Susanna
Oh! Susanna
Original Text
Original Christy Minstrels. The Oldest Established Band in the United States, As Arranged and Sung by them with Distinguished Success at all their Concerts .... No. ... 8 Oh' Susanna. New York: C. Holt Jr., 1848. Facsimile in Stephen Foster, Minstrel-Show Songs, introduction by H. Wiley Hitchcock, Earlier American Music 14 (New York: Da Capo Press, 1980). M780.82 E13 no. 14 Toronto Metro Public Reference Library.
1[Solo] I came from Alabama
3I'm g'wan to Louisiana,
4My true love for to see,
5It raind all night the day I left
6The weather it was dry,
7The sun so hot I frose to death
8Susanna dont you cry.
9[Chorus] Oh! Susanna Oh! dont you cry for me
10I've come from Alabama wid mi ban-jo on my knee.
12And trabbelled down de riber,
13De Lectric fluid magnified,
14And Killed five Hundred Nigger
16I realy thought I'd die;
17I shut my eyes to hold my breath,
18Susana, dont you cry.
19[Chorus] Oh! Susana Oh! dont you cry for me
20I've come from Alabama wid mi ban-jo on my knee.
21[Solo] I had a dream de odder night,
22When ebery ting was still;
23I thought I saw Susana,
24A coming down de hill.
25The buckwheat cake war in her mouth,
26The tear was in her eye,
27Says I, im coming from de South,
28Susana, dont you cry.
29[Chorus] Oh! Susana Oh! dont you cry for me
30I've come from Alabama wid mi ban-jo on my knee.
31[Solo] I soon will be in New Orleans,
32And den I'll look all round,
33And when I find Susana,
34I'll fall upon the ground.
35But if I do not find her,
36Dis darkie 'l surely die,
37And when I'm dead and buried,
38Susana, dont you cry.
39[Chorus] Oh! Susana Oh! dont you cry for me
40I've come from Alabama wid mi ban-jo on my knee.
Notes
2] wid: with.
ban-jo: "ban jo" in original; stringed instrument probably of African origin. Back to Line
ban-jo: "ban jo" in original; stringed instrument probably of African origin. Back to Line
11] telegraph: "telegrph" in original text, i.e., telegraph wire. Back to Line
15] bullgine: steam locomotive. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1848
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.