stephen foster
Up through the years, I've read and heard several times that Stephen C. Foster isn't worth a cent. The vignette picture here should counterprove it, but he was a controversial person already in his time, for his ways of writing lyrics. But there are a few facts that can't be denied. Many consider him being the greatest songwriter of the nineteenth century, he was the first full-time professional songwriter in America, he is the only person to have written two state songs (Florida and Kentucky) and he's even been called "Father of American Music". Most of all; there is no doubt he was a brilliant composer.
Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864) managed to write more than 200 songs during his rather short career, starting at the age of 14. There is no evidence he was a racist, or had political convictions at all. He was simply a product of his time. And; really, are Americans much better nowadays, when it all comes down to dust?
There is no official biography; he left nothing himself, and his brother Morrison most probably shuffled things away for sheltering reasons. Among quite many varying efforts I found one from an academic point of view, "University of Pittsburgh". From the condition of that website, and the fact that I consider ALL .edu-sites on American servers being volatile due to the political situation, I ripped the text and put it HERE. Foster's icon at the bottom links to the original site, if still existing.
I've gathered a few of his songs, because I like them. Against my normal habit (skipping most signs and capitals except for names) I leave the lyrics exactly as I found them in the old Pittsburgh archive, because Foster was almost autistic in punctuation and spelling, and I respect him. I judge only the music. Don't shoot me; I'm only the guitar player.
This song was first published in 1864, and first recorded as "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" by Standard Quartette in 1894. This pioneer vocal group began to record cylinders for Columbia in August 1891. Members included Ed DeMoss, H.C. Williams, R.L. Scott and William Cottrell. In 1893 they joined the cast of the national hit traveling show "The South Before the War". Then, as we're writing 2026, it's been followed by 210 covers and a few adaptions into UK English and Scandinavian languishes.
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home
'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
Weep no more my lady, oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home
For the old Kentucky home far away
They hunt no more for the 'possum and the coon
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!
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The head must bow and the back will have to bend
Wherever the darkies 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!
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For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G G7 C G the sun shines bright in the old kentucky home Em A7 D ...D7 'tis summer the darkies are gay G G7 C G the corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom Em Am [D] D7 G while the birds make music all the day ... G7 C G the young folks roll on the little cabin floor Em A7 D ...D7 all merry all happy and bright G G7 C G by 'n by hard times comes a-knocking at the door Em Am [D] D7 G then my old kentucky home good night G Cadd9 G [Am Cmaj7] C G weep no more my lady oh! weep no more today ... G7 C G we will sing one song for the old kentucky home Em Am [D] D7 G for the old kentucky home far away
