Oh, Suzanna
written by steven foster

OH, SUZANNA
OH, SUZANNA       (SONG CAR-TUNES)    1925
Oh, Suzanna is one of the most popular songs written by Steven Foster, and it is considered to be one of the most popular American songs ever. The song was first published in 1848, and it originally gained popularity as a minstrel song to be performed by blackfaced white minstrels. The song is also said to have been very popular with Confederate soldiers. The original lyrics to the song are openly racist and offensive (and include the "n" word), and the lyrics have been changed in more "modern" versions of the song. In 1923, the song was featured in the soundtrack of the film The Covered Wagon. The silent film may have only been viewed with a partial soundtrack, and only at the films New York City premiere at the Rivoli Theatre. This early attempt of film with sound utilized the DeForrest Phonofilm sound-on-film process. The popular Western film was otherwise a silent film. (The film entered the public domain on Jan 1, 2019) Soon after the film's release, in 1925, Oh Suzanna was used for an installment of the Song Car-Tunes series - which was famous for it's pioneering sound-on-film using the DeForrest Phonofilm process. 
1924

WENDELL
HALL AND
SHANNON
​QUARTET
1925

ARTHUR
​FIELDS
1927

VERNON
DALHART
1927

DAN
​HORNSBY
1932

HANS
ALBERS
​(GERMANY)
1935

AL
​JOLSON
19??

SHIRLEY
​TEMPLE
1936

GENE AUTRY
& SMILEY
BURNETTE
from the film
OH, SUSANNA
1939

FATS
​WALLER
19??

AL JOLSON
​(BLACKFACE)
19??

TRAPP
FAMILY
from the film
THE TRAPP
FAMILY IN
​AMERICA
1948

CONNIE
​FRANCAIS
1956

THE
SINGING
​DOGS
1958

ROBERT
SHAW
CHORALE
19??

from
BUGS
​BUNNY
1966

BOBBY
SOLO
​(ITALY)
19??

THE
​BYRDS
1970

JAMES
​TAYLOR
1971
JOHNNY CASH
AND JAMES
TAYLOR
19??

JOHN
McEUEN
from
SESAME
​STREET
1985

​KISS
1990

THE
BULGARIAN
WOMAN'S
CHOIR
19??

​SWOOP
19??

IGOR
​EPSTEIN
19??

​from 
THE
MUPPET
​SHOW
20??

TRADITIONAL
CHINESE
​BAND
2002

PETE
SEEGER
2003

LISA
​LOEB
2006

LAURIE
BERKNER
​BAND
2006

CARLY
​SIMON
2011

​JEWEL
2014

MUFFIN
​SONGS
2015

BLACK
IRISH
​BAND
20??

2nd SOUTH
CAROLINA
​STRING BAND
2017

HILARY
​KLUG
TOM ROUSH - original 1848 lyrics (WARNING : OFFENSIVE)
YAMBOO vs PITBULL  -  OH, SUZANNA vs TIMBER MASHUP
OH, SUZANNA  (modern clean lyric version)

​Oh, I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee!Going to Louisiana, my true love for to see
Oh Susanna! Oh don't you cry for me!
For I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee
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 a banjo on my knee!
Optional third verseI had a dream the other night, when everything was still
I thought I saw Susanna dear a-comin' down the hill
A red red rose was in her hand, a tear was in her eye
I said I come from dixieland, Susanna don't you cry!
Oh Susanna! Oh, don't you cry for me!
For I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee
I soon will be in New Orleans, and then I'll look all around,
And when I find Susanna, I'll fall upon the ground.
But if I do not find her, then surely about to die,
And when I'm dead and buried—Susanna, don't you cry.
Oh Susanna! Oh, don't you cry for me!
For I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee
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