- Oh! Susanna
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This article is about the folk song. For other uses, see Oh! Susanna (disambiguation).For the 1936 film, see Banjo on My Knee (film).
"Oh! Susanna" 
Original sheet musicMusic by Stephen Foster Lyrics by Stephen Foster Published Cincinnati: W. E. Peters & Co. (1848) Language English Form Strophic with chorus "Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826-1864). It was published by W. C. Peters & Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1848.[1] The song was introduced by a local quintette at a concert in Andrews' Eagle Ice Cream Saloon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 11, 1847. Foster was said to have written the song for his men's social club.[2] The name Susannah may refer to Foster's deceased sister Charlotte, whose middle name was Susannah.[3]. Glenn Weiser suggests the song was influenced by an existing work, "Rose of Alabama" (1846), with which it shares some similarities in lyrical theme and musical structure.[4]
"The Banjo Song" and "Venus"
In 1963, the Big 3 recorded a new arrangement of the song as "The Banjo Song". The Dutch band, Shocking Blue, in turn, adopted the new arrangement with completely different lyrics for their 1969 hit "Venus".
References
- ^ "Oh! Susanna". 2008. http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/foster021.htm. Retrieved September 2011.
- ^ Richard Jackson. 1974. Stephen Foster song book: original sheet music of 40 songs. Courier Dover Press. p. 177.
- ^ Michael Saffle. 2000. Perspectives on American music, 1900-1950 Taylor & Francis. p. 382.
- ^ "Oh! Susanna by Stephen Foster - Likely Origins". Celticguitarmusic.com. http://www.celticguitarmusic.com/Foster.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
External links
- guitar-guides.com – free easy guitar arrangement of "Oh! Susanna"
- "Oh, California", sung to the same tune as "Oh! Susanna"
- Pennsylvania-Dutch Version of "Oh, Susanna"
- "Oh! Susanna" on Grey Gull record 4125 c.1923 sung by Arthur Fields - Original lyrics
- Artist Nikki Hornsby's grandfather "Cheerful" Dan Hornsby recorded this song for Columbia Records #1268-D 1929
- Free sheet music
Stephen Foster Songs Minstrel songs: Angelina Baker · Camptown Races · Don't Bet Your Money on de Shanghai (1861) · The Glendy Burk (1860) · Lou'siana Belle (1847) · Massa's in de Cold Ground (1852) · My Brodder Gum (1849) · My Old Kentucky Home · Nelly Bly · Nelly Was a Lady · Oh! Lemuel · Oh! Susanna (1848) · Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) ·
Parlor songs: Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway! · Beautiful Dreamer (1864) · Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming · Hard Times Come Again No More · Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair · Old Black Joe · Old Dog Tray (1853) · Open Thy Lattice Love (1844) · Some Folks (1855) · Willie We Have Missed You (1854) ·
Civil War songs: Nothing But a Plain Old Soldier (1863) · A Soldier in the Colored Brigade (1863) · That's What's the Matter (1862) ·
People and Places People: Christy Minstrels · Dan Bryant · Dan Emmett · Dan Rice · Edwin Pearce Christy · Elizabeth Cochrane · Fletcher Hodges, Jr. · Henry Kleber · Jane McDowell Foster ·
Places: Allegheny, Pennsylvania · Allegheny Cemetery · Baltimore, Maryland · Cincinnati, Ohio · New York City · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Suwannee River · Warren, Ohio ·Publishers F. D. Benteen · Firth, Pond & Co. · Firth, Son & Co. · John J. Daly · W. C. Peters & Co. · Wm. A. Pond & Co. ·Films, musicals, recordings Films: Harmony Lane · I Dream of Jeanie · Swanee River ·
Musicals: Stephen Foster - The Musical ·
Recordings: Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster ·Culture Halls of Fame and State Parks Other Stephen Foster Handicap · Stephen Foster Memorial · Stephen Foster Memorial Day · Stephen Foster Sculpture · Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (anime) ·Categories:- 1847 songs
- American folk songs
- Blackface minstrel songs
- Songs written by Stephen Foster
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