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)