Ellen Bayne

Stephen Foster may very well have known a small girl named "Ellen Bayne." And it was while viewing her sleeping that he was inspired to write this song. Background music is in the key of C.

Tote Bag with harmonica logo

  4   5  6    8   7     -6    7   -6   6
Soft be thy slum-bers, rude cares de part,

 4   5    6  8   7    -8    7    -6    7
Vis-ions in num-bers cheer thy young heart

  -6  -7   7     -7     6
Dream on while bright hours

-5  -5 -6   7    8  -8
and fo-nd hopes re-main,

  4    5    6    8  -8    7
Bloom-ing like smil-ing bow'rs 

 7   -8    7 -7    7
For thee, El-len Bayne.

chorus

 8   6   -6   7     8   -8    7
Gen-tle slum-bers o'er thee glide,

   8    6  -6  7    -8    8   -8
Dreams of beau-ty round thee bide

  4   5  6   7   8 -8   7
While I lin-ger by thy side,

  -8   7 -7    7
Sweet El-len Bayne.

verse 2
Dream not in anguish dream not in fear;
Love shall not languish; Fond ones are near.
Sleeping or waking, in pleasure or pain.
Warm hearts will beat for thee, Sweet Ellen Bayne.

verse 3
Scenes that have banish'd smile on thee now,
Pleasures once banished play round thy brow
Forms long departed greet thee again
Soothing thy dreaming heart, Sweet Ellen Bayne.