by Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864)
Ring, ring de banjo
Language: English
De time is nebber dreary If de darkey nebber groans; De ladies nebber weary Wid de rattle ob de bones: Den come 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! wha 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 charm 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 could 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 sent me warning He'd like to hear me play. On de banjo tapping, I come wid dulcem 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 don't 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)
Authorship:
- by Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864), "Ring, ring de banjo", 1851. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin
This text was added to the website: 2011-11-10
Line count: 49
Word count: 239