Way down upon de Swanee River,
Far, far away,
Dere’s wha my heart is turning ever,
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 de world am sad and dreary,
Ev’rywhere I roam;
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home.

All roun’ 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 brother,
Happy was I;
Oh! take me to my kind old mother,
Dere let me live and die. [Chorus]

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 roun’ de comb?
When will I hear de banjo tumming,
Down in my good old home? [Chorus]