Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night
By Stephen Collins Foster (1826–1864)T
’Tis summer, the darkies are gay;
The corn-top’s ripe, and the meadow’s in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By’n’-by hard times comes a-knocking at the door.—
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night!
Oh! weep no more to-day!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky Home,
For the old Kentucky Home, far away.
On the 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 the darkies have to part.—
Then my old Kentucky Home, good-night!
Wherever the darkey may go;
A few more days, and the trouble all will end,
In the field where the sugar-canes grow.
A few more days for to tote the weary load,—
No matter, ’twill never be light;
A few more days till we totter on the road,—
Then my old Kentucky Home, good-night!
Oh! weep no more to-day!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky Home,
For the old Kentucky Home, far away.