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The Swanee River - Old Folks at Home

 


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Stephen C. Foster wrote "The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)" in 1851. He never actually visited the state of Florida or saw the Florida section of the Suwannee River which flows from the Okeefenokee Swamp in Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. It is reported that Foster chose the term "Swanee" because its two-syllable cadence fit nicely into the music he had composed.

In 1935, "Swanee River" was designated as the new official state song replacing "Florida, My Florida," which was adopted in 1913 as the state song.

The State Song:
The Swanee River
(Old Folks at Home)

Written by Stephen C. Foster

Original Version

The Swanee River
(Old Folks at Home)

 
Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away,
There's where my heart is turning ever,
There's where the old folks stay.
All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for the old plantation,
And for the old folks at home.
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.

Chorus
All the world is sad and dreary
Everywhere I roam.
O brothers, how my heart grows weary,
Far from the old folks at home.


Chorus
All de world am sad and dreary,
Eb-rywhere I roam;
Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home!


2nd verse
All 'round the little farm I wander'd,
When I was young;
Then many happy days I squander'd,
Many the songs I sung.
When I was playing with my brother,
Happy was I.
Oh, take me to my kind old mother,
There let me live and die.

 

2nd verse
All round de little farm I wandered
When I was young,
Den many happy days I squandered,
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.


3rd verse
One little hut among the bushes,
One that I love.
Still sadly to my memory rushes,
No matter where I rove.
When will I see the bees a humming,
All 'round the comb?
When shall I hear the banjo strumming,
Down in my good old home.

 

 

3rd Verse
One little hut among de bushes,
One dat I love
Still sadly to my memory rushes,
No matter where I rove.
When will I see de bees a-humming
All round de comb?
When will I hear de banjo strumming,
Down in my good old home?

 

 


 

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