De time is nebber dreary if de darkey nebber groans;
De ladies nebber weary wid de rattle of de bones:
Den come again Susanna by de gaslight ob de moon;
We'll tum de old Piano when de banjo's out ob tune.
Ring, ring de banjo!
I like dat good old song, Come again my true lub, Oh!
Wha you been so long.
Oh!
Nebber count de bubbles while der's water in de spring;
De darkey hab no troubles while he's got dis song to sing.
De beauties ob creation will nebber lose der charm
While I roam de old plantation wid my true lub on my arm.
Once I was so lucky, my massa set me free,
I went to old Kentucky to see what I
Could see: I could not go no farder,
I turn to massa's door, I lub him all de harder, I'll go away no more.
Early in de morning ob a lubly summer day,
My massa sent me warning he'd like to hear me play.
On de banjo tapping, I come wid dulcem strain;
Massa fall a napping -- he'll nebber wake again.
My lub, I'll hab to leabe you while de ribber's running
High: But I nebber can deceibe you -- so don't you wipe your eye.
I's guine to make some money;
But I'll come anodder day -- I'll come
Again my honey, if I hab to work my way.