Crazy Horse is best known for its long association with Young, despite having released five albums of its own over a 19-year span. It has been co-credited with Young as Neil Young and Crazy Horse on 15 albums, "Americana" and "Psychedelic Pill" from 2012 being the latest.
The band recorded a concept album entitled "Greendale" (2003) that told the story using metaphors of murder and crime to represent the destruction of a small town community. The final song "Be The Rain" is one of Neil's classic epics, pleading for the world to be like the rain -- recycle and conserve to save our planet.
Discography: the studio albums "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "Zuma" (1975), "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), "Re-ac-tor" (1981), "Life" (1987), "Ragged Glory" (1990), "Sleeps With Angels" (1994), "Broken Arrow" (1996), Greendale (2003), "Americana" (2012), Psychedelic Pill (2012) and live albums "Live Rust" (1979), "Weld" (1991), "Year of the Horse" (1997), "Live at the Fillmore East" (2006)
Oh Susannah
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Susannah
Oh Susannah
Oh Susannah
I had a dream the other night
Everything was still
I dreamed I saw Susannah
Oh, oh, oh, Susannah
Don't you cry for me (oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
'Cause I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
Buckwheat cake was in her mouth
The tear was in her eye
Says I'm comin' from the South
Susannah don't you cry
Oh, oh, oh, Susannah
Don't you cry for me (oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
'Cause I come from Alabama with a B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
Rained all night the day I left
The weather, it was dry
Sun so hot I froze to death
Susannah don't you cry
Oh, oh, oh, Susannah
Don't you cry for me (oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
'Cause I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
I had a dream the other night
Everything was still
I dreamed I saw Susannah
She was comin' down the hill
Oh, oh, oh, Susannah
Don't you cry for me (oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
'Cause I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
Well I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
I'm goin' to Louisiana
My true love for to see
Oh, oh, oh, Susannah
Don't you cry for me (oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
'Cause I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
Yeah, I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
Yeah, I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
Neil Young's interpretation of "Oh Susannah" evokes nostalgia and sentimentality, presenting a picture of a dream in which he sees Susannah walking down the hill at a moment when everything feels still. The song is based on the traditional American folk song "Oh Susannah" that has been documented as far back as 1848. The song is considered a classic example of a "minstrel song," a genre popular in the 19th century, and is one of the best known of the genre.
The song highlights a man's journey from Alabama to Louisiana, where he hopes to be reunited with his true love. The lyrics tell the story of his journey - the weather, the terrain, the food, and the music that he carries with him in the form of his banjo. The use of the banjo to carry a person's music and culture is a typical American folk motif, and it drives the narrative of the song.
Neil Young's version is a tribute to the song's roots, and it is done in the characteristic raw, acoustic style of a lot of traditional American music. It is a representation of the beauty and simplicity of the folk genre, and the fact that something so simple and basic can have such an impact on a listener is a testament to its power.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Susannah
Addressing the titular character of the song
I had a dream the other night
Everything was still
I dreamed I saw Susannah
She was comin' down the hill
The singer had a dream where he saw Susannah walking down a hill
Oh, oh, oh, Susannah
Don't you cry for me (oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
'Cause I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
The singer assures Susannah not to worry because he is from Alabama and has his banjo with him
Buckwheat cake was in her mouth
The tear was in her eye
Says I'm comin' from the South
Susannah don't you cry
Susannah had buckwheat cake in her mouth and a tear in her eye, but the artist tells her not to cry because he is coming from the South
Rained all night the day I left
The weather, it was dry
Sun so hot I froze to death
Susannah don't you cry
The weather was unpredictable when the artist left, but he continues to assure Susannah not to worry
Well I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
I'm goin' to Louisiana
My true love for to see
The singer is traveling from Alabama with his banjo to see his true love in Louisiana
Yeah, I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
(Oh Susannah, oh Susannah)
Yeah, I come from Alabama with my B-A-N-J-O on my knee
Repeating that he is from Alabama with his banjo on his knee
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SANFORD SCHMIDT, STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
neilyoungchannel
Hi, this is Neil. Link to the NYA info-card for this song with press, documents, manuscripts, photos, videos. Look around NYA for fun and listening! ALL my music in high resolution at https://neilyoungarchives.com/info-card?track=t2011_1010_01
Tony Gard
neilyoungchannel Love Neil Young Archives, best site on the net.
Lissa Rose
Wicked 👍😎
Maxine Corrington
Does not get better than this for creativity …
stroke p
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Emmm1353
Love your music so much!
Angel Hoot
Neil Young is an important part of musical history. For many reasons. He never fails to make the point. thanks Neil. Your creativity is genius !
nheztorsky
You can not find such a great legendary composer like Neil still breaking the whole genre of music...Great musician so amazing genius in terms of variety in different variation you can hear sounds unique and the lyrics is so fantastic .FRC still the best !!! Your my real Idol since way back till now .
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1847 {September 11th} Stephen Foster's "Oh! Susannah" was performed in public for the first time; it was sung by a local quintet at the Eagle Ice Cream saloon in Pittsburgh, PA And 108 years later in 1955 the Singing Dogs entered Billboard's Top 100 chart on Dec. 10th with their covered version, eventually it peaked at #22 & spent 7 weeks on the Top 100. It has also been covered in albums by James Taylor, Byrds, & Neil Young with Crazy Horse. Mr. Foster died at 37 {from a fall}
bhedrock
Isn't this one of the best albums you've heard in years ? I think it is. Freakin' amazing.