Swanee River
Nostalgic Longing: Swanee River's Yearning for Home
Lyrics
Way down upon the Swanee River far, far away
Expressing a distant location on the Swanee River, far away.
There's where my heart is turning ever
Describing the speaker's heart constantly turning towards that distant place.
There's where the old folks stay
Noting that the elderly individuals reside in that place.
All the world is sad and dreary
Conveying a general sense of sadness and dreariness in the world.
Ev'ry where I roam
Expressing the speaker's weariness while traveling everywhere.
Oh, darkies how my heart grows weary
Referring to the "darkies" (a term historically used for African Americans) and their yearning for home.
Far from the old folks at home
Expressing the speaker's distance from their home and family.
All up and down the whole creation
Describing the speaker's travels across the entire world.
Sadly I roam
Expressing a persistent sense of sadness during the journey.
Still longing for the old plantation
Continuing to express the longing for the speaker's original home, particularly the plantation.
And for the folks at home
Expressing a desire for connection with the folks from the speaker's hometown.
All 'round the little farm I wandered
Reflecting on the speaker's past, wandering around a small farm.
When I was young
Recalling a time when the speaker was young.
Than many happy days I squander'd
Regretting the speaker's past, where many happy days were wasted.
Many the songs I sung
Mentioning the many songs the speaker used to sing during that time.
When I was playing with my brother
Recalling joyful moments playing with a brother.
Happy was I
Expressing happiness during those times.
Oh, take me to my kind old mother
Yearning to return to the speaker's kind old mother.
There let me live and die
Expressing a desire to live and die in the presence of the mother.
One little hut among the bushes
Describing a small hut surrounded by bushes.
One that I love
Expressing love for that specific hut.
Still sadly to my mem'ry rushes
Reflecting on the memories associated with the hut, even when far away.
No matter where I rove
Emphasizing that the memories persist regardless of the speaker's current location.
When shall I see the bees a humming
Poetically asking when the speaker will experience the buzzing of bees again.
All round the comb?
Referring to the bees surrounding the comb in a familiar place.
When shall I hear the banjo strumming
Poetically questioning when the speaker will hear the banjo playing.
Down in my good old home?
Expressing a deep longing for the good old home where the banjo was played.
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