This song was published in 1860. This is one of the few plantation songs that Foster did not use the Negro dialect. Background music is in the key of G.
 Trucker's Hat with harmonica logo |
6 7 -8 8 -10 9 Once I could laugh and play, 7 -8 8 8 -8 -8 When in life's ear-ly day; 6 7 -8 8 -10 9 Then I was far a-way, 7 7 -8 -8 8 7 Down a-mong the cane-brakes. chorus 8 8 -9 -10 9 8 Down a-mong the cane-brakes 8 -8 7 -7 7 8 -8 On the Mis-sis-sip-pi shore, 9 -9 8 -9 -6 Oh! Those hap-py days, -8 7 8 -8 -9 8 Those hap-py days are o'er! 9 -9 8 -8 -6 8 O Those hap-py da-ys -8 7 -7 -8 7 will come back no more!
verse 2
Yes I was free from care;
All was bright summer there;
Dark days to me werefair,
Down among the canebrakes.
verse 3
There lived my mother dear
(Gone from this world I fear);
There rang out voices clear,
Down among the canebrakes.
verse 4
There lived a lovely one,
Who, like the rest hasgone;
She might have been my own,
Down among the canebrakes.
verse 5
Long years have glided by
Since then I breathed each sigh;
May I return to die,
Down among the canebrakes.
