From the 1923 musical “Bombo”.
Words and music by Abner Silver and Harry Woods.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- It’s just an old time story
One that you’ve heard before
I left my mammy’s fond caress
To search the world for happiness
That things I left behind me
Were the things I sought in vain
Sad and blue, weary, too
I’m goin’ home again
Refrain
Yes sir! I’m goin’ South
Taste the sugar cane right in my mouth
All the world is sweet away down South
Where I spent my happy days
I hear the rustlin’ corn
Birds a-singin’ in the early morn
In the little town where I was born
Down Alabamy way
I just can picture Black Joe with his old banjo
I can hear him strummin’ a tune
That old quartette I can hear them yet
Singin’ “By the Silvery Moon”
Ain’t got a thing to pack
Still I’m headin’ for that little shack
There’s nobody gonna hold me back
I’m goin’ South
- We never miss the sunshine
Until the shadows fall
We never long for childhood days
Until our dreams all fade away
I’m sorry that I wandered
From the fields of golden grain
So I’ll roam way back home
And be a kid again
Sung here by Fred Feild: