Ring, Ring De Banjo!
| Composer | Stephen Foster |
| Lyricist | Stephen Foster |
| Year Published | 1851 |
| Type | Traditional |
| Playing Time | |
| Comments | "Ring de Banjo" appeared in 1851 a few months prior to
"Old Folks at Home." It is a splendid minstrel piece that tells of life on
another of Foster's mythical plantations. But despite its conventional minstrel-show
cliches about the happy lives of the slaves ("De darkey hab no troubles While he's
got dis song to sing"), the piece has distinct subversive elements. Verses three
through five relate a curious story: a slave is freed and journeys to Kentucky but
apparently runs out of money and returns to the plantation ("I turn to massa's door,
I lub him all de harder"); subsequently "massa" dies unexpectedly during a
banjo recital ("He'll nebber wake again. Ring, ring de banjo!") and the slave
runs away, promising to return someday for his lover ("I'll come again my honey, If I
hab to work my way"). The story serves as a gentle suggestion-and it is perhaps
unique in Foster's works-that life was not all roses and sunshine 'way down south.
"Ring de Banjo" is also distinguished by a brief guest appearance of the
celebrated Susanna, who is cast as the slave's lover. Stephen Foster Song Book, P. 180 |