Oh, Susanna
Song Lyrics & Words
I came from Salem City
with my washpan on my knee
I'm going to California,
the gold dust for to see.
It rained all night the day I left,
the weather it was dry
The sun so hot I froze to death,
Oh, brothers don't you cry.
Oh, Susannah, Oh, don't you cry for me
I'm going to California with my washpan on my knee.
I soon shall be in Frisco
and there I'll look around.
And when I see the gold lumps there,
I'll pick them off the ground.
I'll scrape the mountains clean, my boys,
I'll drain the rivers dry.
A pocketful of rocks bring home,
So, brothers don't you cry.
Alternative Lyrics & Words
An alternative version popular in the south of America
Oh, Suzannah,
Oh, don't you cry for me
I've come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee.
It rained all night the day I left,
The weather it was dry,
Sun so hot I froze to death,
Suzannah, don't you cry.
Oh, Suzannah,
Oh, don't you cry for me.
I'm going to Louisiana,
My true love for to see.
I had a dream the other night,
When everything was still.
I thought I saw Suzannah
A'comin' down the hill.
A buckwheat cake was in her mouth,
A tear was in her eye.
Says I "I'm comin' from the South!"
Suzannah don't you cry.
Oh, Suzannah,
Oh, don't you cry for me.
I've come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee.
Another similar Southern version
I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
I'm going to Louisiana,
My true love for to see
It rained all night
The day I left
The weather it was dry
The sun so hot,
I froze to death
Susanna, don't you cry
Oh, Susanna,
Oh don't you cry for me
For I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
I had a dream the other night
When everything was still
I thought I saw Susanna
A-coming down the hill
The buckwheat cake
Was in her mouth
The tear was
In her eye
Says I, I'm coming from the south
Susanna, don't you cry
Oh, Susanna,
Oh don't you cry for me
For I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
O i come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee
I'm bound for Louzia a na
My true love for to see
Another Version With Slightly Different Verse
O susanna o don't you cry for me
I've come from alabama with a banjo on my knee.
I had a dream the other night
when everything was still
I thought I saw Susanna bright
A comin' round the hill
O susanna
o don't you cry for me
I've come from Alabama
with a banjo on my knee
Information About This Song
"Oh Susannah" was set with new lyrics and became known as the "forty-niners" theme song. This version was sung by miners during the California Gold Rush.
Stephen Foster wrote the original lyrics in 1847.
A note on pronouncing "Louisiana" in the song, phonetically it's pronounced Loo-zee-anna.
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Comments (3)
By Olivia in Fosston, Minnesota on 25 July 2009
Didn't you expect it to be good? It IS a classic folk song, after all!
By Cristina in Candy Land on 12 August 2009
it was good. i have to say!
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This song has been printed from BusSongs.com.
By Jenny B. in West Covina, Ca, Usa on 10 May 2009
this is a really popular song back then? its actually pretty good :)