Oh! Susanna

"Oh! Susanna" is an American minstrel song, composed by Stephen Foster in 1848. It is regarded as the first American popular song, and was the first song by Foster, for which he received about $100. it became very popular during the gold rush as a song for blackface minstrels. It helped to popularize the minstrel song and became a standard for those learning to play the guitar or the piano in America. The song has been condemned by some to be horribly racist and a shame of the past because the word "n*****" appears once in the second verse, though the term was much more common then for both blacks and whites.

The song is sung from the perspective of a black man leaving Alabama to see his true love, Susanna, in New Orleans.

Lyrics

The original lyrics, though often censored, as written by Stephen Foster are as follows:

I came from Alabama, Wid a banjo on my knee,
I’m gwyne to Louisiana, My true love for to see.
It rain’d all night the day I left, The weather it was dry,
The sun so hot I froze to death; Susanna, don’t you cry.

Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, Oh don’t you cry for me,
cos’ I’ve come from Alabama, Wid my banjo on my knee

I jumped aboard the telegraph, And trabbled down the riber,
De lectric fluid magnified, And killed five hundred n*****.
De bullgine bust, 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,
cos’ I’ve come from Alabama, Wid my banjo on my knee

I had a dream the odder night, When ebery thing was still
I thought I saw Susanna A-Coming down de hill;
The buck-wheat cake was in her mouth, The tear was in her eye;
Says I, “I’m coing from de south, Susanna, don’t you cry.”

Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, Oh don’t you cry for me,
cos’ 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 will fall upon de ground.
And If I do not find her, Dis Darkey’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,
cos’ I’ve come from Alabama, Wid my banjo on my knee

See also

• Camptown Races

External links

• Song with original lyrics