Way down upon the Swanee river,
far, far away
there's where my heart is turning ever
there's where the old folks stay
See up and down the old creation
saddly I roam
still longing for the old plantation
and for the old folks at home
 
All the world is sad and dreary,
ev'rywhere I roam
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
far from the old folks at home.
 
All round the little farm I wandered
when I was young
the many happy days I squandered,
many the songs I sung
When I was playing with my brother
happy was I
Oh! Take me to my kind old mother,
there let me live and die
All the world is sad and dreary ...
 
One little hut among the bushes
one that I love
still sadly to my mem'ry rushes,
no matter where I rove.
When will I see the bees ahumming,
all round the comb ?
When will I hear the banjo tumming
down in my good old home
All the world is sad and dreary ...