ruthie foster, “oh susannah,”
from: Stages, 2004
“I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
I’m going to Louisiana, my true love for to see
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry
The sun so hot I froze to death; Susanna, don’t you cry.
Oh, Susanna, don’t you cry for me
cos’ I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee.
had a dream the other night when everything was still,
I thought I saw Susanna coming up the hill,
A buck wheat cake was in her mouth, a tear was in her eye,
I said I’m coming from the south, Susanna don’t you cry.
I soon will be in New Orleans and then I’ll look around
And when I find my Susanna, I’ll fall upon the ground
But if I do not find her, this man will surely die
And when I’m dead and buried, Susanna don’t you cry.”
A Stephen Foster war horse sung by a true musical warrior-ess. Her effortless delivery belies the miles of skill that come from her loving resolve to playing. She is also one of our great treasures as a guitarist. Her vocals change the commonplace into church. A pantheist blues & gospel church. Wanted to give you some “comparison shopping” with a pre-recorded and live version. Ms. Foster can be depended upon to come to your town. Her message is joy and it oozes natural out of her songs.
