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Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In my dear old home
I was happy as I could be
Where the mocking birds sang every night while I rest
In that little old log cabin by the sea

There is Mother and dear old Dad
Where I left I know it made them sad
So I′m going back to that dear old shack
Where I spent my happy days as a lad

Goodbye friends I'm leaving today
Goodbye friends I′m going far away
I'll be happy as can be on my dear old Mother's knee
In that little old log cabin by the sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jimmie Rodgers's song "Dear Old Sunny South By the Sea" express nostalgia for the singer's childhood home, a small log cabin by the sea. He describes how the mockingbirds sang every night, how happy he was with his family in that home, and how he had to leave them behind, causing them sadness. His desire to return to his childhood home, to his dear old shack, where he spent his happy days as a lad, is evident. His farewell to his friends is also described, indicating his determination to leave and be on his dear old mother's knee in that small log cabin by the sea.


Overall, the song captures the longing for simpler times and the comfort of a childhood home. It speaks of the love and nostalgia a person can feel for a place that has left a profound impact on their life, even years after leaving it. The simplicity of the lyrics, together with the melody, evokes a sense of nostalgia and yearning that many listeners can relate to.


Line by Line Meaning

In my dear old home
In the place I grew up


I was happy as I could be
I was contented in that place


Where the mocking birds sang every night while I rest
I remember the birds singing at night and lulling me to sleep


In that little old log cabin by the sea
I lived in a small wooden house on the coast


There is Mother and dear old Dad
My parents still live there


Where I left I know it made them sad
I am aware that my departure made them unhappy


So I'm going back to that dear old shack
I am returning to my childhood home


Where I spent my happy days as a lad
When I was young, I had good times there


Goodbye friends I'm leaving today
I am saying farewell to my friends


Goodbye friends I'm going far away
I am going to a distant place


I'll be happy as can be on my dear old Mother's knee
I will be joyful with my mother


In that little old log cabin by the sea
In that small wooden house on the coast




Writer(s): J. Rodgers, T. Cozzens

Contributed by Landon K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

pagurobt

In my dear old southern home
I was happy as I could be
Where the mocking birds sing at night while they rest
In that dear old sunny south by the sea


(Yodel)

There's my mother and dear old dad
When I left I know it made them sad
So I'm going back to that dear old shack
Where I spent my happy days as a lad


(Yodel)


Goodbye friends I'm leaving today
Goodbye friends I'm going far away
I'll be happy and free near my dear old Mother's knee
In that little old log cabin by the sea


(Yodel)



All comments from YouTube:

Kind Human

Discovered Jimmie a couple of years ago. Truly amazing songs!

Jason Hill

Jimmie's actually playing ukulele on this track. Julian Ninde is on guitar, and Ellsworth Cozzens is on steel guitar and mandolin. Together, they were the Three Southerners.

Stephen McGuire

When I was a kid my Mom identified the steel "guitbox" as a "Hawai'i slide guitar." Amazing how this early country music picked up on instruments from Hawai'i.

Judy Lear

Thanks for posting...I grew up listening to Jimmie Rodgers...he was my dad's favorite singer...

Mitch Parish

This would have been my Dad's 101st birthday. He used to sing and play these songs including the yodeling parts when we were kids. Thank you for taking me back to those days in Corpus Christi.

York Classic Music

I discovered Jimmie from hearing his name on a Cowboy Copas song called Hillbilly Heaven. I was wondering who this Jimmie Rodgers guy was so I looked him up and came across his song T for Texas and it was like love at first sight! I love his music and his guitar playing style (I play guitar) I have mastered his style and I can sing like him but I still have to master that unique yodel of his. I have been wanting to learn how to make that train whistle sound he made also. I have noticed that those type of noises were popular in the 20's and 30's. In that song, Tuck Away my Lonesome Blues, someone was whistling and it sounded like an organ at first. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it.

INDY OSKARS

YOU GOT IT OLE SON, I DO A LIL´ JIMMIE AND DO IT BADLY, ME YODEL IS EVEN WORST, DON´T MIND, HE´S THE MASTER.

INDY OSKARS

PROFESSIONAL whistler and the way to master his train whistle is just to do it, in other words just practice it
(it DOES he´p a lil´ to put into the imagination ´I FEEL lonesome´, it really he´ps, not kidding ya ole son, try it).

just because

Great Jimmie Rodgers Song Love this one Thanks,Keith Thumbs Up Cheers

pagurobt

In my dear old southern home
I was happy as I could be
Where the mocking birds sing at night while they rest
In that dear old sunny south by the sea


(Yodel)

There's my mother and dear old dad
When I left I know it made them sad
So I'm going back to that dear old shack
Where I spent my happy days as a lad


(Yodel)


Goodbye friends I'm leaving today
Goodbye friends I'm going far away
I'll be happy and free near my dear old Mother's knee
In that little old log cabin by the sea


(Yodel)

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