My Old Kentucky Home - Stephen Foster - Banjo

My Old Kentucky Home is song written by Stephen Foster. I sing and play it on a mountain banjo, two finger thumb lead with no thumb pick! I usually use a thumb pick because it`s easier for me to play with one but I have always liked the sound of no picks at all much better, but it`s a totally different feel for me but I think It`s finally coming around a little. There are many different interpretations of the meaning of this song and Stephen Foster has wrongly and cruelly been labelled a racist by many in the old time music community however if you just read the lyrics it`s easy to see he has compassion and empathy for the people leaving the cabin home whether the`re slaves or a family or both. This song is also sung every year at the start of the Kentucky Derby horse race.

My Old Kentucky Home lyrics
Stephen Foster
Banjo in relative standard G tuning but tuned down to low C.

Oh, the sun shines bright
On my old Kentucky home
'Tis summer,
The old folks are gay
Well, the corn top's ripe
And the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music
All the day

Weep no more, my lady
Oh, weep no more, today
We will sing one song
For my old Kentucky home
For my old Kentucky home
Far away.

Well, the young folks roll
All around the cabin floor
They're merry, all
Happy and bright
By 'n by hard times will
A-come a-knockin' at my door
Then my old Kentucky home
Good night

Weep no more, my lady
No, weep no more, today
We will sing one song
For my old Kentucky home
For my old Kentucky home
Far away.

They hunt no more for the possum and the coon,
On meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door.
The day goes by like a shadow o’er the heart,
With sorrow, where all was delight,
The time has come when we will have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight.

Weep no more, my lady
Oh, weep no more, today
We will sing one song
For my old Kentucky home
For my old Kentucky home
Far away.