1.
The sun shines bright in my old Kentucky home,
’Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom,
While the birds make music all day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By ’n’ by hard times comes a knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!
Chorus:
Weep no more my lady,
Oh! Weep no more today;
We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home,
For my old Kentucky home, far away.
2.
We hunt no more for the possum and the coon,
On meadow, the hill, and the shore;
We sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door.
The day goes by like a shadow o’er the heart,
With sorrow, where all was delight;
The time has come when the people have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight!
Chorus
3.
Your head must bow and your back will have to bend,
Whenever you reap what you sow;
A few more days, and the trouble all will end,
In the field where the sugar-canes grow.
A few more days you will tote the weary load,
No matter, ’twill never be light;
A few more days till you totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight!
Chorus