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My Old Kentucky Home

Kentucky State Song

The U.S. Mint's bicentennial commemorative quarter for Kentucky features a thoroughbred racehorse (state horse), the historic Federal Hill mansion in Bardstown, and the title of Kentucky's state song: "My Old Kentucky Home." Kentucky became the 15th state in 1792. Public domain image on Wikipedia.

Official State Song of Kentucky

Kentucky adopted "My Old Kentucky Home" as the official state song in 1928 (composed by Stephen Foster in 1853). Kentucky also recognizes an official state bluegrass song ("Blue Moon of Kentucky"). All State Songs

Contemporary Lyrics (1986)

The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
'Tis summer, the people are gay
The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in bloom
While the birds make music all the day
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright
By 'n by hard times come 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 the old Kentucky home,
for the old Kentucky home far away.
 
VERSE 2
 
They hunt no more for the 'possum and the coon,
On meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by that 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, good night.
 
REPEAT CHORUS
 
VERSE 3
 
The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the poor folks may go
A few more days and the trouble will end,
In the field where sugar-canes may grow.
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night.
 
REPEAT CHORUS

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