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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.
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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.