Oh! Susannah!
(Alternately: Susannah Don't You Cry. Susanna)

For information on this song as part of the blackface minstrel tradition, please see
its page in The Juba Project's Minstrelsy Database.

Credits

Art Babayants, piano; Alison Jutzi, vocals; Dennis Patrick, sound technician.

Image c. British Library, all rights reserved. Further reproduction is prohibited

Lyrics

Verse 1
I’m gwoin to Alabama
wid my banjo on my knee,
I came from Lousiana
My true lub for to see.
It rain all night de day I left,
De wedder it was dry,
De sun so hot I froze to death!
Susannah don’t you cry.

Verse 2
I jump’d on board de Telegraph,
An trabled down de riber;
De electric fluid magnified,
And killed five hundred nigger!
De bulgine bust, de horse run off;
I really thought I’d die,
I shut my eyes, and hold my breath,
SUSANNAH, don’t you cry!

Image c. British Library, all rights reserved. Further reproduction is prohibited

Verse 3
I had a dream de oder night,
When ebery ting was still;
I thought I saw SUSANNAH
Coming down de hill;
De buck wheat cake was in her mouth,
De tear was in her eye;
Says I, “My lub, I’m from de south;
“SUSANNAH, don’t you cry!”

Verse 4
Now when I get to New Orleans,
I mean to look around;
And if I see SUSANNAH,
I’ll fall upon de ground.
And if dat she is married,
Dis nigger will surely die,
And when I’m dead and buried,
SUSANNAH, don’t you cry!

Chorus
Oh, SUSANNAH!
Don’t you cry for me,
I’m gwoin’ to Alabama,
wid my Banjo on my knee.

Publication Information

Published by Duncombe & Moon 17 Holborn opposite Furnival’s Inn, London.

British Library Shelf Number: H.1660.a(10)