"Oh! Susanna" (1848)
as sung by McTichner of the Sable Harmonists.
Written and Composed
by Stephen Collins Foster, 1826-1864
1.
I come from Alabama
With my Banjo on my knee--
I's g'wine to Lou'siana,
My true lub for to see,
It rain'd all night de day I left,
De wedder it was dry;
The sun so hot I froze to def--
Susanna, dont you cry.
CHORUS
Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me,
I come from Alabama,
Wid my Banjo on my knee.
2.
I jumped aboard the telegraph
And trabbled down de ribber,
De lectrick fluid magnified,
And kill'd five hundred Nigga.
De bulgine bust and de hoss ran off,
I really thought I'd die;
I shut my eyes to hold my bref--
Susanna, dont you cry.
(CHORUS)
3.
I had a dream de udder night,
When ebry ting was still;
I thought I saw Susanna dear,
A coming down de hill;
De buckwheat cake was in her mouf,
De tear was in her eye,
I says, I'se coming from de souf,--
Susanna, dont you cry.
(CHORUS)
[This verse was omitted in the _original_
version.]
4.
Oh! when I gets to New Orleans
I'll look all round and round,
And when I find Susanna
I'll fall right on de ground;
But if I do not find her,
Dis darkey'l surely die,
And when I'm dead and buried,
Susanna, don't you cry.
