Old Folks
Bing Crosby With Bob Crosby And His Orchestra Lyrics

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Way down upon the Swanee River,
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,

Home where the old folks stay

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Old Folks" by Bing Crosby with Bob Crosby and His Orchestra portray a sense of yearning and nostalgia for a place called home, specifically the Swanee River. The Swanee River is depicted as a distant and faraway place where the heart longs to be. The singer expresses a deep longing for the old folks who reside there, suggesting that these elderly individuals hold a special place in the singer's heart. The longing for the old plantation and the old folks at home becomes the central theme of the song.

The lyrics also convey a sense of isolation and sadness. The singer feels lost and detached from the world, wandering sadly throughout creation. It is clear that being away from the old plantation and the old folks at home brings a sense of weariness and sorrow. The line "All the world is sad and dreary, everywhere I roam" amplifies this feeling of desolation.

Overall, "Old Folks" expresses a deep emotional connection to a place of belonging, evoking feelings of nostalgia, longing, and a sense of homecoming. It highlights the importance of familial bonds and the comforting presence of older generations.

Line by Line Meaning

Way down upon the Swanee River,
In a distant place along the Swanee River,

Far, far away
Very far from here

That's where my heart is yearning ever,
That's where my heart longs to be,

Home where the old folks stay
Where the elderly residents reside

All up and down the whole creation,
Throughout all of existence,

Sadly I roam
I wander with a heavy heart

I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
I still yearn for the former plantation

Oh, for the old folks at home
Oh, to be with the elderly residents at home

Well, way down upon the Swanee River,
Indeed, in a faraway place along the Swanee River,

Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
That's truly where my heart longs to be,

All the world is sad and dreary,
The entire world is gloomy and depressing,