The River
{PC_ALI} .{ MUSIC} Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far, far away
That's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay
Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam
I'm a still a-longin' for the old plantation,
Oh, for the old folks at home
Ah-oh-oh!
Oh, my my!
Well, way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey.
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay.
All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam.
I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
And for the old folks at home.
All the world is sad and dreary,
Ev'rywhere I roam
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
"The River" by {PC_ALI} is a rendition of the iconic American song "Swanee River" also known as "Old Folks at Home". The song was written by Stephen Foster in 1851 and has been covered by many artists over the years. The lyrics of the song speak of the yearning for one's homeland and the longing for the comforts of home, particularly for the old folks who may have been left behind.
The first verse opens with the location of the Swanee River, a real-life river that runs through the southern United States. The singer's heart is yearning for home where the old folks stay, implying that he has left his homeland and his loved ones behind. The second verse amplifies this sentiment, as the singer roams all over the world but is still longing for his old plantation and the old folks at home.
The song captures the emotions of homesickness and nostalgia perfectly, making it a timeless classic. The use of the term 'darkies' in the lyrics has been controversial, but it reflects the language of the time and the era when the song was written.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down upon the Swanee River,
I am aching for a place, far far away down the Swanee river
Far, far away
A place I cannot reach nor see
That's where my heart is yearning ever,
My heart beats for that far away place
Home where the old folks stay
That place is where the elderly people that I know and love, live
All up and down the whole creation,
I search high and low, over the whole world
Sadly I roam
But I cannot find a place that satisfies my yearning
I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
I am still craving for my old home
Oh, for the old folks at home
I yearn for the company of my elderly loved ones
All the world is sad and dreary,
Everywhere I go, everything seems bleak
Ev'rywhere I roam
No matter where I travel
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Oh my people, how exhausted I am
Far from the old folks at home
Being away from my loved ones is the source of my tiredness and sorrow
Far from the old folks at home
Far away from those who give me comfort and warmth
Far from the old folks at home
Separated by distance from those who know me best and love me most
Far from the old folks at home
My soul is unsettled, for I am a stranger in a strange land
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER, DAVID BUTTOLPH, CHARLES MAXWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind