Swanee River: Introduction
As The Beatles were developing as a band, they would be the support for vocalist Tony Sheridan. While in Germany, they recorded “Swanee River” with Sheridan when they had the name “The Beat Brothers.”
In Detail
- Release Date: Unreleased
- Recorded: May 24, 1962
- Songwriter: Stephen Foster
- Producer: Bert Kaempfert
Performers And Instruments**
- Tony Sheridan: vocals
- John Lennon: electric guitar
- Paul McCartney: bass guitar
- George Harrison: electric guitar
- Pete Best: drums
- Roy Young: piano
**Ringo Starr was not yet part of The Beatles at this time, of course.
Swanee River: Background
Up to now, there has been no official release of this song by The Beatles. In fact, it may well be that the original recording no longer exists. This is because Polydor states that they’ve “never found it.” Although Sheridan’s album, “My Bonnie,” has a version of this song, it does not feature The Beatles.
So, unless something turns up, we may never get to hear The Beatles’ on the song “Swanee River.” But, if anything does materialise, The Beatles Fan Club will announce this here.
There are videos on YouTube that state their version includes The Beatles as the backing group, but their information is not factual. This is because the version recorded at Hamburg’s Studio Rahlstedt with The Beatles or Beat Brothers is non-existent, as far as we know.
Of course, in the past, there have been other discoveries of “lost” Beatles’ recordings and artefacts. For example, as in the case of the song “Etcetera.” So, who knows? This gem may appear one day; imagine the fuss if it ever does!
Original Swanee River: Lyrics
Stephen Foster wrote “Swanee River,” aka “Old Folks at Home.” It is a minstrel song and dates back to 1851.
Way down upon de Swanee Ribber,
Far, far away,
Dere’s wha my heart is turning ebber,
Dere’s wha de old folks stay.
All up and down de whole creation
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for de old plantation,
And for de old folks at home.
Chorus
All de world am sad and dreary,
Eb-rywhere I roam;
Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home!
2nd verse
All round de little farm I wandered
When I was young,
Den many happy days I squandered,
Many de songs I sung.
When I was playing wid my brudder
Happy was I;
Oh, take me to my kind old mudder!
Dere let me live and die.
3rd Verse
One little hut among de bushes,
One dat I love
Still sadly to my memory rushes,
No matter where I rove.
When will I see de bees a-humming
All round de comb?
When will I hear de banjo strumming,
Down in my good old home?
