Unit 4 - American Revolution and a New Government

understanding through music

Read the Lyrics

This is one version of the lyrics. It is a little different to the version in this recording. Notice the differences.

1. I come from Alabama with my Banjo on my knee—

I'm goin' 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.

(Chorus:)

Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me;

I come from Alabama, with my Banjo on my knee.

2. I had a dream the other night, when everything was still;

I thought I saw Susanna dear, a comin' down the hill.

The buckwheat cake was in her mouth, a tear was in her eye,

I says, "I've coming from the South"-Susanna, don't you cry.

3. I soon will be in New Orleans, and then I'll look all around,

And when I find Susanna, I'll fall upon the ground.

But if I do not find her, this darkie'll surely die,

And when I'm dead and buried—Susanna, don't you cry.

Think About It

1. There are many different versions of this song. Why do you think this happened?

2. What instruments can you hear in this song?

3. Why do you think the banjo was a popular instrument?

4. In the first verse, there are several contradictory statements. Which ones are they and why do you think the songwriter included such strange lines?

understanding through art

On March 5, 1770 in Boston, a group of British soldiers killed three people in a crowd of three or four hundred people who were yelling and throwing objects. Although exactly how the conflict started was not clear, but "The Boston Massacre" outraged many colonists. Raul Revere, a Boston printer, spread this famous image to anger people about the British. People disagree about how accurate the picture is. Why do you think this picture would anger people?