'Old Folks at Home' by Stephen C. Foster

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1Way down upon de Swanee ribber,
2Far, far away,
3Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,
4Dere's wha de old folks stay.
5All up and down de whole creation,
6Sadly I roam,
7Still longing for de old plantation,
8And for de old folks at home.

9[Chorus] All de world am sad and dreary,
10Ebry where I roam,
11Oh! darkeys how my heart grows weary,
12Far from de old folks at home.

13[Solo] All round de little farm I wandered
14When I was young,
15Den many happy days I squandered,
16Many de songs I sung.
17When I was playing wid my brudder
18Happy was I --.
19Oh! take me to my kind old mudder,
20Dere let me live and die.

21[Chorus] All de world am sad and dreary,
22Ebry where I roam,
23Oh! darkeys how my heart grows weary,
24Far from de old folks at home.

25One little hut among de bushes,
26One dat I love,
27Still sadly to my mem'ry rushes,
28No matter where I rove
29When will I see de bees a humming
30All round de comb?
31When will I hear de banjo tumming
32Down in my good old home?

33[Chorus] All de world am sad and dreary,
34Ebry where I roam,
35Oh! darkeys how my heart grows weary,
36Far from de old folks at home.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Old Folks at Home by Stephen C. Foster

Introduction

Stephen C. Foster's "Old Folks at Home" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a song that has been sung by generations of people and has become a part of American folklore. The poem is a tribute to the Old South and its way of life. It portrays a romanticized vision of the plantation life with its idyllic setting of the Suwannee River. The poem also touches upon themes of nostalgia, longing, and homesickness.

The Poem

Way down upon the Suwannee River, Far, far away, There's where my heart is turning ever, There'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.

The poem begins with a nostalgic and romanticized image of the Suwannee River. The river serves as a metaphor for the speaker's longing and homesickness. The repetition of the phrase "far, far away" emphasizes the distance between the speaker and his home. The use of the word "old" in "old folks" and "old plantation" adds to the sentimentality and nostalgia of the poem.

All the world is sad and dreary Everywhere I roam. Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary, Far from the old folks at home.

The second stanza expands on the theme of homesickness and longing. The speaker describes the world as "sad and dreary" without the presence of the old folks at home. The use of the word "darkeys" is a reflection of the language used during the time period the poem was written. The speaker's heart grows weary without the presence of the old folks at home, emphasizing the importance of family and community.

All round the little farm I wandered When I was young, Then many happy days I squandered, Many the songs I sung.

When I was playing with my brother Happy was I. Oh, take me to my kind old mother! There let me live and die.

The third stanza shifts to a personal reflection of the speaker's childhood. The speaker describes wandering around the "little farm" and the happy days spent with family. The use of the word "squandered" suggests that the speaker did not fully appreciate those happy days at the time. The speaker longs to return to the comfort of his childhood home and be with his "kind old mother".

One little hut among the bushes, One that I love, Still sadly to my memory rushes, No matter where I rove.

When will I see the bees a-humming All round the comb? When will I hear the banjo strumming, Down in my good old home?

The fourth stanza describes a specific memory of a "little hut among the bushes" that the speaker loves. The repetition of the word "sadly" emphasizes the speaker's longing for that memory. The final two lines of the stanza reflect the musical culture of the Old South with the mention of bees humming and banjos strumming.

Themes

Nostalgia and Longing The primary theme of the poem is nostalgia and longing for home. The speaker's constant repetition of the phrase "far, far away" emphasizes the distance between the speaker and his home, adding to the sentimentality and nostalgia of the poem. The speaker longs for the comfort of his childhood home and family, which he feels he squandered at the time.
Homesickness The poem also touches upon the theme of homesickness. The speaker describes the world as "sad and dreary" without the presence of the old folks at home. The use of the word "weary" emphasizes the emotional toll that the distance from home has taken on the speaker.
Romanticized South The poem also portrays a romanticized vision of the Old South and its way of life. The idyllic setting of the Suwannee River and the mention of banjos strumming reflect the musical culture of the Old South. The use of the word "darkeys" is a reflection of the language used during the time period the poem was written.

Conclusion

"Old Folks at Home" is a classic poem that has become a part of American folklore. It portrays a romanticized vision of the Old South and its way of life, with its idyllic setting of the Suwannee River. The poem touches upon themes of nostalgia, longing, and homesickness, emphasizing the importance of family and community. The use of language and imagery reflects the time period the poem was written in and adds to its sentimental and nostalgic tone. Overall, "Old Folks at Home" is a timeless poem that speaks to the universal longing for home and family.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Old Folks at Home: A Classic Poem by Stephen C. Foster

Stephen C. Foster's "Old Folks at Home" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and poignant piece that captures the essence of the American South and the longing for home that many people feel. In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of this timeless poem.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a beautiful river, the Suwannee, which flows through the heart of the South. The river is described as "dark and dreamy" and "far away." This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with a sense of longing and nostalgia.

The speaker then goes on to describe the "old folks" who live by the river. These are people who have lived their entire lives in the South and have a deep connection to the land and the river. They are described as "happy and free" and "contented and kind." The speaker seems to envy their simple and peaceful way of life.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more nostalgic for the South and the old folks who live there. He longs to be back in his childhood home, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of the South. He longs to hear the "banjo strumming" and the "darkies" singing in the fields.

The poem reaches its climax in the final stanza, where the speaker expresses his deep longing for home. He says that he wants to go back to the "old plantation" and be with his "mammy" and "daddy." He wants to be back in the place where he was born and raised, surrounded by the people he loves.

The significance of this poem lies in its ability to capture the essence of the American South and the longing for home that many people feel. The South has always been a place of great beauty and charm, but it has also been a place of great hardship and struggle. The people who live there have a deep connection to the land and the river, and they have a strong sense of community and family.

The poem also touches on the issue of slavery, which was a major part of life in the South during the time when Foster wrote the poem. The use of the word "darkies" to describe the slaves who worked in the fields is a reflection of the attitudes of the time. However, it is important to note that Foster was not condoning slavery, but rather reflecting the attitudes of the people who lived in the South at that time.

In conclusion, "Old Folks at Home" is a classic poem that captures the essence of the American South and the longing for home that many people feel. It is a beautiful and poignant piece that has stood the test of time. The poem is a reflection of the attitudes and values of the people who lived in the South during the time when Foster wrote it, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the human experience.

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