Old
Folks at Home
Way
down upon the Swanee River, Far, far away
There’s
where my heart is turning ever, That'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
All
the world is sad and dreary, Everywhere I roam
Oh,
brothers, how my heart grows weary, Far from the old folks at home
All
'round the little farm I wandered, When I was young
There
many happy days I squandered, Many the songs I sung
When
I was playing with my brothers, Happy was I
Oh,
take me to my kind old mother, There let me live and die
All the world is sad and dreary, Everywhere I roam
Oh, brothers, how my heart grows weary, Far from the old
folks at home
One
little hut among the bushes, One that I love
Still
sadly to my memory rushes, No matter where I roam
When
will I see the bees a-hummin', All 'round the comb
When
will I hear the banjo strummin', Down in my good old home?
All the world is sad and dreary, Everywhere I roam
Oh, brothers, how my heart grows weary, Far from the old folks at home
Foster's intended meaning (1850s): No
matter how far we may travel or what sadness the world imposes on us, all our
hearts ache for the best memories of childhood, the security of a family and
parents ("old folks"), the familiarity of a home.
This is one of the Foster songs that was actually much more popular after his death than in 1851 when he wrote it. According to several music historians, "Old Folk's At Home' reached it's height in popularity in the 1890s and early 1900s. Due to it's subject matter of 'darkies' and plantations, many politically correct choral groups and singers no longer use it in performances. Many people are unaware that this song has 3 verses.
