Swanee River
Chet Atkins Lyrics
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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
Chet Atkins’s “Swanee River” is a mournful song about nostalgia and homesickness. With its melancholic melody and bittersweet lyrics, the song is a lamentation from someone who is far away from home, longing for the old familiar places and family members he left behind. The lyrics describe the singer’s yearning for the Swanee River, a real-life river in the Southern United States, and the old plantation where he spent his childhood. He misses the "darkies" or slaves who used to live and work in the plantation, and the simple country life with its familiar comforts and routines. The refrain of the song repeats the title phrase “Way Down Upon the Swanee River” over and over again, highlighting how deeply the singer longs for his past and his roots.
The song is a deeply nostalgic meditation on the South and its history, and the lyrics are filled with references to slavery and the antebellum period. The line “all the world is sad and dreary” evokes a sense of sadness and loss that is central to the song’s emotional tone. The singer is wandering aimlessly, looking for a place to belong, but he cannot escape his past or his memories. The repeated use of the phrase “far, far away” emphasizes the distance that separates the singer from his home, and the wistful tone of the melody adds to the song’s haunting sense of longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down upon the Swanee River,
I am far away from the peaceful and serene place of Swanee River.
Far, far away-hey
I am very far away from Swanee River.
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
My heart is always longing for Swanee River.
Home where the old folks stay.
Swanee River is home to me because it's where the old folks stay.
All up and down the whole creation,
I have wandered far and wide in search of peace and happiness.
Sadly I roam.
I feel sad while roaming around here and there.
I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
I long to go back to the plantation where I used to live.
And for the old folks at home.
I miss the old folks who used to live in the plantation.
All the world is sad and dreary,
I feel like the whole world is sad and gloomy.
Ev'rywhere I roam
Wherever I go, I feel the sadness and dreariness of the world.
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
I feel exhausted and tired, especially because of the hardships that the African American community faces.
Far from the old folks at home
I feel a deep longing for the people and the place that I consider home.
Far from the old folks at home
I feel a deep longing for the people and the place that I consider home.
Far from the old folks at home
I feel a deep longing for the people and the place that I consider home.
Far from the old folks at home
I feel a deep longing for the people and the place that I consider home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: BAGDASARIAN, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jatikinsdaughter
Thanks for the kind comments about Jim Atkins. He's my father, and brother of my Uncl, Chet. My dad was a member of the original Les Paul Trio, and was a featured soloist with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians for many years.
mistycat1
I love Chet Atkins but I never knew what a wonderful singer Jim Atkins was.
pattykake19
Great voice. & as always great playing.
Joanne Brady
Some years ago, my son studied guitar with Jim Atkins at Cotten Music in Nashville, and we still talk about the wonderful experience it was for him. Great person..........
Joseph Goodman
I bought this record about 40 yr. ago. it brings back good memories. Chet's brother was a great singer. Chet wasn't far behind. Thanks daffeydoug. (Joe G.)
Rogelio Alo
daffydoug: Thanks a ton for posting these super quality music. Your father has a very good voice so golden and your uncle Chet is just so marvelous a musician. I miss him and I knew him since I was very young. I can see he is a very humble man so I think he is now in heaven playing good music...
Joanne Brady
My son studied guitar at Cotten Music w/ Jim Atkins. He had great respect for his genius..........and now, many yrs,. later, continues to play guitar.
moproducer
@jatikinsdaughter I've had this album since it was released in '63. Jim Atkins could sing the water out of the ocean. I know he had a successful career in broadcasting, but it's a shame he didn't record more.
Carl Haynes
I haven't heard this news yet, I wonder what ever became om Chets' brother??, Jim Atkins? Is he still alive? If so, whats he doing? I love this video, and the song there sounds better than ever! Thank you daffydoug.
dhgate2
@jatikinsdaughter Your father was a great singer and rhythm guitarist. I worked with Chet for many years. Once when he was getting ready to drive to Knoxville I gave him a couple of cassettes to listen to on the way. One was the Les Paul trio and he told me what a wonderful surprise it was to hear his brother's voice. I miss him tremendously, as I know you miss your Dad....but they left some beautiful music behind.