| Although attributed to E. P. Christy when it first appeared, The Old Folks at Home was one of the most popular of all Stephen Foster's minstrel songs (Foster sold Christy the right to call himself its composer for $5). It also found its way into a lot of different dramatic productions of Uncle Tom's Cabin, includingThe Christian Slave, the dramatic reading text that Stowe published in 1855. There Tom sings this song at Simon Legree's. | |
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As Sung by Christy's Minstrels, Written and Composed by E. P. Christy. (New York: Firth, Pond & Co., 1851) 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. 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 wander'd When I was young, Den many happy days I squander'd, 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. 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. 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 ole home? 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. |
 ARTISTS: The 97th Regimental String Band GUITAR & LEAD VOCALS: Mark "Mad Dog" Luce; BASS, HARMONICAS & VOCALS: Rick Moock; ALL OTHER STRINGS & VOCALS: VGO. Raise a Ruckus ℗ © 1991 Licensed for use by Smoothbore Music, Inc. Unauthorized duplication or downloading is prohibited. Audio encoding by Jama Coartney at the Digital Media Lab, Clemons Library, Univ. of Virginia |