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Songwriter

History

"Oh! Susanna" is a song written by Stephen Foster in 1847. Popularly associated with the California Gold Rush, the song is occasionally (incorrectly) called "Banjo on My Knee".

In 1843, the year Dan Emmett established The Virginia Minstrels as the first blackface troupe in New York, Foster, 16, was working as a bookkeeper for his brother Morrison's business in Pittsburgh. Morrison was a friend of the early circus blackface clown, Dan Rice, and the young Stephen came under his influence.

Foster also became aware of the new fad of "Ethiopian" songs. He also met a member of the minstrel troupe, The Sable Harmonists, who performed his first attempt, "Old Uncle Ned." A contest in 1847 given by The Eagle Saloon stimulated the song called "Away Down Souf." His next attempt was titled "Susanna" – advertised at "A Grand Gala Concert" as "A new song, never before given to the public."

A local music store, Peters & Field bought the song for $100, but before they could publish it, it was pirated by a New York publisher who printed it with the name of E. P. Christy as author. Christy's Minstrels were rapidly becoming the most popular group in the Bowery theater district of Manhattan, and were to be the chief performers of Foster's minstrel songs in the 1850s.

Probably by fortuitous coincidence rather than design, the song appeared in the public eye at the same time as the new polka fad was arriving from Europe. While minstrel songs prior to this time were considered uncouth, "Oh! Susanna!" thus provided an entre to the middle-class market.

Chase, Gilbert. America's Music. New York. McGraw-Hill, Revised second edition, 1966. (pp. 289-90)

Lyrics

I come from Alabama

With my banjo on my knee

I'm going to Louisiana,

My true love for to see



It rained all night

The day I left

The weather it was dry

The sun so hot,

I froze to death

Susanna, don't you cry



Oh, Susanna,

Oh don't you cry for me

For I come from Alabama

With my banjo on my knee



I had a dream the other night

When everything was still

I thought I saw Susanna

A-coming down the hill



The buckwheat cake

Was in her mouth

The tear was

In her eye

Says I, I'm coming from the south

Susanna, don't you cry



Oh, Susanna,

Oh don't you cry for me

For I come from Alabama

With my banjo on my knee 

Listener comments about "Oh Susannah (63446)"

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