American Old Time Song Lyrics: 37 Down In Tennessee

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 37

DOWN IN TENNESSEE.
Tune-"Down on the Farm."
Words by T. H. Tooker.

Now, white folks, you must know, dat 'twas many years ago.
When my ole massa died an' set me free;
It was in dat happy clime, whar' it's sunny all de time,
An' de mocking birds in de trees, sing merrily.
Dar I'd rise up in de morn' an' go an' hoe de yaller corn.
Den no thought ob sorrow ebber troubled me;
In de fields I'd sing all day for my heart was light and guy.
On de ole plantation, 'way down in Tennessee.

Chorus.
Now I often heave a sigh for dem happy days gone by,
Tho' fond memory brings dem back again to me;
And it fills my heart wid pain to think I'll never see again
De ole plantation 'way down in Tennessee.

When my hard day's work was o'er I'd sit by de cabin door.
Den I'd take de ole banjo upon my knee;
De old familiar times I'd play to drive dull care away,
An' de ole folks dey'd jine in and sing wid me.
Dar my mammy used to bake fat possums an' hoe-cake
For us darkies when we'd hab' our jubilee;
Den we'd sing und dance all night, while de moon shone bright,
On de ole plantation, 'way down in Tennessee.- Chorus.

On Sunday nights we'd go an' take de yaller gals you know.
To hear de preacher man in de Baptist church;
An' reckon I see him now, wid' de sweat upon his brow,
Calling on us sinners to leave Satan in de lurch.
But us young dark's were in clover when de preaching was over.
An' how happy den de yaller gals would be;
For until de break ob day, we'd make love in de usual way,
On de ole plantation, 'way down in Tennessee.- Chorus.

When I left dat good ole home 'mid other scenes to roam,
I bid all ob my friends a sad good-bye;
An' I nebber will forget as long as I can recollect.
How my daddy and my mammy dey did cry.
But now dey both am gone an' I'm left alone to mourn;
From all earthly cares an' sorrows dey am free;
For dey sleep beneath the sod, in de ole country church-yard.
Near de ole plantation, 'way down in Tennessee.-Chorus.