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Chords and Lyrics for Old Folks at Home

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Words and Music by Stephen Foster

VERSE 1

Eb  Bb7           Eb     Ab 
Way down upon the Swanee river,

Eb        Bb7 
Far, far away,

Eb     Bb7               Eb      Ab 
That's where my heart is turning ever,

Eb               Bb7       Eb 
That's where the old folks stay;

    Bb7             Eb       Ab 
All up and down the whole creation,

Eb    F7 Bb7 
Sadly I roam,

Eb    Bb7             Eb      Ab 
Still longing for the old plantation,

Eb          Bb7          Eb 
And for the old folks at home.

  
CHORUS

  
Bb7              Eb 
All the world is sad and dreary,

Ab           Eb 
Everywhere I roam,

    Bb7          G7 Cm          Ab 
Oh! brother, how my heart grows weary,

Eb           Bb7          Eb 
Far from the old folks at home. 

  
VERSE 2

Eb   Bb7              Eb     Ab 
All 'round the little farm I wandered,

Eb         Bb7 
When I was young,

Eb   Bb7        Eb     Ab 
Then many happy days I squandered,

Eb       Bb7     Eb 
Many the songs I sung;

     Bb7           Eb      Ab 
When I was playing with my brother,

Eb    F7  Bb7 
Happy was I,

Eb  Bb7           Eb       Ab 
Oh! take me to my kind old mother,

Eb           Bb7      Eb 
There let me live and die.

  
CHORUS

  
Bb7              Eb 
All the world is sad and dreary,

Ab           Eb 
Everywhere I roam,

    Bb7          G7 Cm          Ab 
Oh! brother, how my heart grows weary,

Eb           Bb7          Eb 
Far from the old folks at home. 

  
VERSE 3

Eb  Bb7         Eb       Ab 
One little hut among the bushes,

Eb         Bb7 
One that I love,

Eb    Bb7         Eb     Ab 
Still sadly to my mem'ry rushes,

Eb        Bb7     Eb 
No matter where I rove;

     Bb7            Eb     Ab 
When will I see the bees a-humming,

Eb         F7  Bb7 
All 'round the comb,

Eb   Bb7             Eb    Ab 
When will I hear the banjo strumming,

Eb         Bb7      Eb 
Down in my good old home.

  
CHORUS

  
Bb7              Eb 
All the world is sad and dreary,

Ab           Eb 
Everywhere I roam,

    Bb7          G7 Cm          Ab 
Oh! brother, how my heart grows weary,

Eb           Bb7          Eb 
Far from the old folks at home.

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Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo Ab Major Bb7 C Minor Eb Major F7 G7
Guitar Ab Major Bb7 C Minor Eb Major F7 G7
Mandolin Ab Major Bb7 C Minor Eb Major F7 G7
Piano Ab Major Bb7 C Minor Eb Major F7 G7
Ukulele Ab Major Bb7 C Minor Eb Major F7 G7

Sheet Music for Old Folks at Home

Chords on this page may be simplified from the original version. View the sheet music for this title to see the original chords. The following sheet music is available for this title: