Ring, ring de banjo

De time is nebber dreary

If de darkey nebber groans;

De ladies nebber weary

Wid de rattle ob de bones:

Den come again Susanna

By de gaslight ob de moon;

We'll tum de old Piano

When de banjo's out ob tune.

CHORUS

Ring, ring de banjo!

I like dat good old song,

Come again my true lub,

Oh! wha you been so long.

Oh! nebber count de bubbles

While der's water in de spring:

De darkey hab no troubles

While he's got dis song to sing.

De beauties ob creation

Will nebber lose der charm

While I roam de old plantation

Wid my true lub on my arm.

(

CHORUS

Once I was so lucky,

My massa set me free,

I went to old Kentucky

To see what I could see:

I could not go no farder,

I turn to massa's door,

I lub him all de harder,

I'll go away no more.

(

CHORUS

Early in de morning

Ob a lubly summer day,

My massa sent me warning

He'd like to hear me play.

On de banjo tapping,

I come wid dulcem strain;

Massa fall a napping --

He'll nebber wake again.

(

CHORUS

My lub, I'll hab to leabe you

While de ribber's running high:

But I nebber can deceibe you --

So don't you wipe your eye.

I's guine to make some money;

But I'll come anodder day --

I'll come again my honey,

If I hab to work my way.

(

CHORUS