I came from Alabama
Wid my banjo on my knee,
I’m g’wan to Louisiana,
My true love for to see,
It rained all night the day I left,
The weather it was dry,
The sun so hot I frose to death;
Susanna don’t you cry.
Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, oh don’t you cry for me;
I’ve come from Alabama
Wid my banjo on my knee.
I jumped aboard de telegraph,
And trabbeled down de ribber,
De ‘lectric fluid magnified,
And killed five hundred nigger;
De bullgine buste, de horse run off,
I really thought I’d die;
I shut my eyes to hold my breath,
Susanna, don’t you cry.
Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, oh don’t you cry for me;
I’ve come from Alabama
Wid my banjo on my knee.
I had a dream de odder night,
When ebery t’ing was still;
I thought I saw Susanna,
A-coming down de hill.
The buckwheat cake was in her mouth,
The tear was in her eye,
Says I, “I’m coming from de South,
Susanna, dont you cry.”
Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, oh don’t you cry for me;
I’ve come from Alabama
Wid my banjo on my knee.
I soon will be in New Orleans,
And den I’ll look all round,
And when I find Susanna,
I’ll fall upon the ground.
But if I do not find her,
Dis darkie’ll surely die,
And when I’m dead and buried,
Susanna, don’t you cry.
Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, oh don’t you cry for me;
I’ve come from Alabama
Wid my banjo on my knee.
______________________________________
sung by the 2nd South Carolina String band (2:49)
Whoo-hoo!
I named my dear daughter Susanna. Strange to think that this is one of the most popular songs in U.S. history.
It’s a pretty happy song with a good beat, good melody, and fairly easy for all to sing. Can’t beat that combination. 🙂