Lyrics by Stephen Foster
De time is nebber dreary
If de darkey nebber groans;
De ladies nebber weary
Wid de rattle ob de bones;
Den ome again Susanna
By de gaslight ob de moon;
We’ll tum de old Piano
When de banjo’s out ob tune.
chorus:
Ring, ring de banjo!
I like dat good old song,
Come again my true lub,
Oh! whar you been so long.
Oh! nebber count de bubbles
While der’s water in de spring;
De darkey hab no troubles
While he’s got dis song to sing.
De beauties ob creation
Will nebber lose der harm
While I roam de old plantation
Wid my true lub on my arm.
chorus
Once I was so lucky,
My massa set me free,
I went to old Kentucky
To see what I ould see;
I could not go no farder,
I turn to massa’s door,
I lub him all de harder,
I’ll go away no more.
chorus
Early in de morning
Ob a lubly summer day,
My massa send me warning
He’d like to hear me play.
On de banjo tapping,
I come wid dulem strain;
Massa fall a napping
He’ll nebber wake again.
chorus
My lub, I’ll hab to leabe you
While de ribber’s running high;
But I nebber can deceibe you
So dont you wipe your eye.
I’s guine to make some money;
But I’ll come anodder day
I’ll come again my honey,
If I hab to work my way.
chorus
