“My Old Kentucky Home”

Description

"The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home; 'Tis summer, the darkies are gay...." The song lists the troubles of the poor tired slave (soon to die? far from home?), "Weep no more, my lady... We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home far away..."

Supplemental text

My Old Kentucky Home
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night

From sheet music published 1853 (on five pages) by Firth, Pond & Co.
Title page inscribed
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME, GOOD NIGHT*
  FOSTER'S PLANTATION MELODIES
          No. 20
         As Sung By
     Christy's Minstrels
No.18. FAREWELL MY LILLY DEAR
No.19. MASSA'S IN THE COLD GROUND
   Written and Composed by
       STEPHEN C. FOSTER

The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the darkies are gay,
The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright:
By'n by Hard Times comes a knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky Home, good night!

CHORUS
Weep no more, my lady, oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For the old Kentucky Home,
For the old Kentucky Home, far away.

2d. V.
They hunt no more for the possum and the coon
On the meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door.
The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight:
The time has come when the darkies have to part,
Then my old Kentucky Home, good-night!
           Chorus.

3d. V.
The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the darkey may go:
A few more days, and the trouble all will end
In the field where the sugar canes grow.
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter 'twill never be light,
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky Home, good-night!
           Chorus.

* On the interior page, the title is given as "My Old
Kentucky Home, Good-night!"

Notes

Spaeth (_A History of Popular Music in America_, p. 114) reports that the text of this song was derived from a poem called "Poor Uncle Tom, Good Night." - RBW

Recordings

• George Alexander, "My Old Kentucky Home" (Oxford 3354, n.d.)
• Climax Quartet, "My Old Kentucky Home" (Columbia 512, 1900)
• Ford Hanford, "My Old Kentucky Home and Old Black Joe [medley] (Victor 18767, 1921)
• Harry Macdonough, "My Old Kentucky Home" (Victor 636, 1900)
• Standard Quartette, "My Old Kentucky Home" (CYL: Columbia 2248, rec. 1894)

References

1. Dean, p. 72, "My Old Kentucky Home" (1 text)
2. RJackson-19CPop, pp. 134-138, "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Hill-CivWar, pp. 217-218, "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" (1 text)
4. Silber-FSWB, p. 246, "My Old Kentucky Home" (1 text)
5. Fuld-WFM, pp. 384-385, "My Old Kentucky Home"
6. DT, KENTYHOM
7. ST RJ19134 (Full)
8. Roud #9564
9. BI, RJ19134