Old Folks are Gone, Lyric Variant 01

This item is part of the I. G. Greer Folksong Collection which consists of more than 300 individual song titles and their variants as collected by Isaac Garfield Greer (1881-1967) from informants, primarily in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties. The collection includes manuscripts, typescript transcriptions produced by Dr. Greer’s clerical staff, and handwritten musical notations. Songs range from traditional Child Ballads, traditional English and Scottish ballads as well as their American variants, to 19th century popular music to musical compositions of local origin.

Popular music--United States

Homecoming--Songs and music

Family--Songs and music

Childhood--Songs and music

Root, George F. (George Frederick), 1820-1895

AC.113 Isaac Garfield (I.G.) Greer Papers and Recordings

W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University

Greer, I. G. (Isaac Garfield), 1881-1967

PDF

English

Text

Old Folks Are Gone

Far far in many lands I've wandered sadly and lone
My heart was ever turning southward
To all the dear ones at home
Were after all my weary roaming
at early dawn
I've come and find the cot still standing
But all the old folks are gone

Chorus-
Here I wander sad and lonely
In the dear old home
Those that I loved so well and fondly
All all the old folks are gone

II
Here's where I frolicked with my brother
Under this tree
Here's where I knelt beside my mother
From care and sorrow free
Still sing the little birds as sweetly
At night and morn
Still runs the little brook fleety
But oh the old folks are gone

Chorus

III
Down where the wild banara's waving
They're laid to rest
Where swanee's peaceful waters loving
The green turf o'er their breast
But there's a home I know where parting
Never can come
Oh for that home I must be starting
There's where the old folks are gone

1854
R.E. Jones
Mrs. R.E. Barnes
copied by Sue Campbell
Jan. 2nd 1920
Mother copied from book

Ruth Emeline Jones [Mrs. R. E. Barnes], 1834-1924

Ruth Barnes is the mother of Elizabeth Jones and the grandmother of Sue Campbell

Sue Campbell, 1897-1968

Her ballad collection from the William B. Jones family of Taylorsville, North Carolina is in the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill library

1854

113_OldFolksAreGone_Lyric_01