PLAY                                                                                                                                   Return to Songs
Swanee River
(Old Folks At Home)
Words and Music by Stephen Foster
 
F                   C7     F              Bb             F             G7       C7                  
F                   C7 F              Bb F             C7 F
F                   C7 F              Bb F             G7 C7
F                   C7 F              Bb F             C7 F
C7 F Bb F             C7      
F                   A7 Dm           Bb F            C7 F          (Repeat)
Play 4-beats for each cell for a slow strum. Play 8-beats for each cell for a faster strum.
Click here for a key of C arrangement with ragtime piano.
_______
 
Way down upon the Swanee River, far, far away.
That's where my heart is turning ever.  That's where the old folks stay.
All up and down the whole creation, sadly I roam,
Still longing for the old plantation, and for the old folks at home.
All the world is sad and dreary, everywhere I roam,
Oh! Lordy, how my heart grows weary, far from the old folks at home.
_______
 
Performer Links:
(webpage)
 
Watch Jim perform "Swanee River" in a plectrum banjo medley (youtube, timestamp 2:15)
 
Listen to the Scotty Plummer perform "Swanee River" (youtube)
 
Listen to Dick Martin perform "Swanee River" on plectrum banjo (mp3)
 
Listen to the Banjo Kings perform "Swanee River" (mp3)
 
Listen to the Southern California Banjo Band perform "Old Folks At Home" (youtube, timestamp 6:24)
 
Listen to Vess Ossman perform "Old Folks At Home" (youtube)
 
Listen to Brennen Ernst perform "Swanee River" on the 5-string banjo (mp3)
_______

Arranged by Jim Bottorff
 
This Chord Chart may not appear correctly with some browsers.  It should be viewed with a full size window.  
The chord names should appear in single rows.   Let me know of any problems.
 
email: jbott@ix.netcom.com