/!--The traditional lyrics are arranged in four verses:--/ I came from Alabama, Wid a banjo on my knee, I'm gwyne to Louisiana, My true love for to see. It rain'd all night the day I left, The weather it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to death; Susanna, don't you cry. Chorus: Oh! Susanna, Oh don't you cry for me, cos' I've come from Alabama, Wid my banjo on my knee I jumped aboard the telegraph, And trabbled down the riber, De lectric fluid magnified, And killed five hundred nigger. De bullgine bust, de horse run off, I really thought I'd die; I shut my eyes to hold my breath, Susanna don't you cry. CHO: Oh Susanna &c. I had a dream the odder night, When ebery thing was still I thought I saw Susanna A Coming down de hill; The buck-wheat cake was in her mouth, The tear was in her eye; Says I, "I'm coing from de south, Susanna, don't you cry." CHO: Oh Susanna &c. I soon will be in New Orleans, And den I'll look all round, And When I find Susanna, I will fall upon de ground. And If I do not find her, Dis Darkie'l surely die, And when I'm dead and buried, Susanna, don't you cry. CHO: Oh Susanna &c. /!--Because the second verse and colloquialisms were racist, modern verses have changed to be less offensive:--/ I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee, I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see 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, don't you cry for me cos' I come from Alabama With my banjo on my knee. I had a dream the other night when everything was still, I thought I saw Susanna coming up the hill, A buck wheat cake was in her mouth, a tear was in her eye, I said I'm coming from the south, Susanna don't you cry. I soon will be in New Orleans and then I'll look around And when I find my Susanna, I'll fall upon the ground But if I do not find her, this man will surely die And when I'm dead and buried, Susanna don't you cry. /!--The nonsense verse that opens the song hints that the song is not intended to be taken too seriously. The coarse[2] African-American dialect of the original lyrics reflects the minstrel show tradition that Foster worked in.--/