Song Video
Lyrics
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.
Information About Oh, Susanna
"Oh! Susanna" was written by Stephen Collins Foster who was known as the "father of American Music". Published in 1848 the song is sometimes referred to as "Banjo on My Knee".
"Oh Susannah" became known as the "forty-niners" theme song after it changed its lyrics and was sung by miners during the California Gold Rush.
A note on pronouncing "Louisiana" in the song, phonetically it's pronounced Loo-zee-anna.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
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 Louisiana
My true love for to see.
Another version you can sing to
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.