| "Old Folks at Home," also known by the words of its first line, "(Way Down Upon the) Swanee River," is a song written in 1851 by composer Stephen Foster, to be performed by the New York performing troupe Christy's Minstrels. It was the official state song of Florida since 1935. According to legend, Foster had most of the lyrics in place but was casting about to give a name to the river of the opening line and asked his brother to suggest one. The first suggestion was "the Yazoo" of Mississippi, which, despite fitting the melody perfectly, Foster rejected. The second suggestion was "the Pee Dee" of the Carolinas, to which Foster said, "Oh pshaw! I won't have that." His brother then consulted an atlas and called out "Suwannee!". Foster immediately wrote it in (misspelling it "Swanee" to fit the melody), saying "That's it exactly!". Foster himself never saw the Suwannee or even visited Florida, but the popularity of the song singlehandedly started a major tourist movement to Florida to see the river, as travelers from the Northeastern states in particular flocked to the region. Most authorities trace the success of "Old Folks at Home" to the same qualities shared by most of Foster's other well-known compositions: a bright, memorable melody. |
Old Folks at Home Lyrics 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! darkies how my heart grows weary, Far from de old folks at home. 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. One little hut amond 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 old home? |
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