Riverboats
 


 




           The coming of the steam engine also changed transportation on
     the waterways, and nowhere was the change more obvious than on
     the big rivers of America.   Now it was possible to travel up the
     river as well as down, and river boats became more numerous and
     more luxurious. Those on the Mississippi, especially, formed a
     culture all their own. Show boats because popular, and their music
     is still popular today.  Many of these songs, although formally
     composed by men such as Stephen Foster, are still considered
     authentic folk music because of the feeling they expressed about
     the life of that era.  Oh, Susanna is typical of the songs of the old
    "paddle wheelers" on the "Big River".
 


      Oh, Susanna

Oh, I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee,
I'm goin' to Louisiana, my Susanna 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 comin' sown the hill.
    The buckwheat cake was in her mouth, a tear was in her eye,
    Says I, "I'm comin' 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.

 Folk Music home page  Revolution  S.S. Banner
 Canals  Railroads  Spirituals
 Civil War  National Hymn  Conclusion