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32-681: In 1957, the Florida Sheriffs Association founded the first Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch. With $ 5,000 and 160 acres (0.65 km) of donated land on the banks of the Suwannee River , the Ranch aimed to act as a home for needy, neglected and unwanted boys. Though the project struggled to stay afloat in its first few years of operation, the Boys Ranch developed into a popular and highly successful program. In 1971, ground

64-604: A black Floridian jazz musician, Charles Atkins. Crist then encouraged state Senator Tony Hill , who was the leader of the legislature's Black Caucus, to find a new song. Hill joined forces with state Representative Ed Homan and the Florida Music Education Association to sponsor a contest for a new state song. On January 11, 2008, the song " Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky) "

96-450: A duet of Old Folks at Home combined with Humoresque No. 7 in the 1936 film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town . Written in the first person from the perspective and in the dialect of an African slave (at a time when slavery was legal in 15 of the states of the US ), the song's narrator states "longing for de old plantation ", which has been criticized as romanticizing slavery. On the other hand,

128-664: A little river in Florida emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. ‘That’s it, that’s it exactly,’ exclaimed he delighted, as he wrote the name down; and the song was finished, commencing, ‘Way Down Upon de Swanee Ribber.’ He left the office, as was his custom, abruptly, without saying another word, and I resumed my work.” Foster himself never saw the Suwannee, or even visited Florida, but nevertheless Florida made "Old Folks At Home" its state song in 1935, replacing " Florida, My Florida ". Despite

160-735: A longing for the "old folks at home" has sometimes been interpreted, for example, by W. E. B. Du Bois in The Souls of Black Folk (1903), as a longing for the people and traditions of Africa, where most of the human beings enslaved in the New World had been free before they were kidnapped and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in the Atlantic slave trade . The word, " darkies ", used in Foster's lyrics, has been amended; for example, "brothers"

192-477: A result, while the song was a success, Foster did not directly profit much from it, though he continued to receive royalties for the song. Foster had composed most of the lyrics but was struggling to name the river of the opening line, and asked his brother, Morrison, to suggest one. Morrison wrote, “One day in 1851, Stephen came into my office, on the bank of the Monongahela, Pittsburgh, and said to me, ‘What

224-421: A young black woman gave a moving, nondialect rendition of "Old Folks at Home", except "still longing for the old plantation" came out "still longing for my old connection". Perhaps someone confused Stephen Foster's lyrics with a cell phone commercial. In his 2007 inauguration ceremony, Charlie Crist decided not to include the state song, but rather to use in its place, "The Florida Song", a composition written by

256-451: Is a folk song written by Stephen Foster in 1851. Since 1935, it has been the official state song of Florida , although in 2008 the original lyrics were revised . It is Roud Folk Song Index no. 13880. "Old Folks at Home" was commissioned in 1851 by E. P. Christy for use by Christy's Minstrels , his minstrel troupe. Christy also asked to be credited as the song's creator, and was so credited on early sheet music printings. As

288-544: Is a river that runs through south Georgia southward into Florida in the Southern United States . It is a wild blackwater river , about 246 miles (396 km) long. The Suwannee River is the site of the prehistoric Suwanee Straits that separated the Florida peninsula from the Florida panhandle and the rest of the continent. Spelled as "Swanee", it is the namesake of two famous songs: " Way Down Upon

320-473: Is a good name of two syllables for a Southern river? I want to use it in this new song of Old Folks at Home .’ I asked him how Yazoo would do. ‘Oh,’ said he, ‘that has been used before.’ I then suggested Pedee. ‘Oh, pshaw,’ he replied ‘I won’t have that.’ I then took down an atlas from the top of my desk and opened the map of the United States. We both looked over it and my finger stopped at the ‘Swanee,’

352-420: Is also probably based on "swanee" as a variant spelling of "Suwanee". The Suwannee River is a diverse and rich ecological space, hosting varied aquatic and wetland habitats. It is home to a large number of temperate and subtropical species, including unique and endangered ones. The Suwannee alligator snapping turtle , described scientifically only in 2014, is endemic to the Suwannee river basin. According to

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384-558: The Alapaha River and Withlacoochee River . The confluences of these three rivers form the southern borderline of Hamilton County, Florida . The Suwanee then bends southward near the town of Ellaville , followed by Luraville, then joins together with the Santa Fe River from the east, south of the town of Branford . The river ends and drains into the Gulf of Mexico on the outskirts of Suwannee . The Spanish recorded

416-458: The Gulf of Mexico . The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge offers bird and wildlife observation, wildlife photography, fishing, canoeing, hunting, and interpretive walks. Facilities include foot trails, boardwalks, paddling trails, wildlife drives, archaeological sites, observation decks and fishing piers. Old Folks at Home " Old Folks at Home " (also known as " Swanee River ")

448-609: The 16th century, the river was inhabited by two closely related Timuca -speaking peoples: the Yustaga , who lived on the west side of the river; and the Northern Utina , who lived on the east side. By 1633, the Spanish had established the missions of San Juan de Guacara, San Francisco de Chuaquin, and San Augustin de Urihica along the Suwannee to convert these western Timucua peoples. In the 18th century, Seminoles lived by

480-566: The B side of their 1963 single " Sukiyaki ". Another swing version was recorded by Hugh Laurie (2011). Tony Sheridan recorded it in 1962 on the Polydor label as a Rock 'n' roll song with his backing band The Beat Brothers issued on his album " My Bonnie ". Another version was also done for him that same year by the Beatles but this recording was lost. Larry Groce sang the song on Disney Children's Favorite Songs 2 in 1979, omitting

512-481: The Suwannee River, Far, far away, There's where my heart is turning ever, There's where the old folks stay. All up and down the whole creation, Sadly I roam, Still longing for my childhood station, And for the old folks at home. Chorus All the world is sad and dreary Everywhere I roam. O dear ones, how my heart grows weary, Far from the old folks at home. 2nd verse All ‘round

544-664: The Swanee River " (1851) and " Swanee " (1919). The headwaters of the Suwannee River are in the Okefenokee Swamp in the town of Fargo, Georgia. The river runs southwestward into the Florida Panhandle, then drops in elevation through limestone layers into a rare Florida whitewater rapid. Past the rapid, the Suwanee turns west near the town of White Springs, Florida , then connects to the confluences of

576-459: The Swanee River") or just "Swanee River", and George Gershwin's 1919 song " Swanee " (partly inspired by Foster's song) made a #1 hit by Al Jolson. The river thus being internationally famous much beyond other rivers of its size and importance, the Suwanee is presumably the referent in the idiom "go down the swanny" (a variation of "go down the river"), meaning "finished, used up, gone to hell". "Swanee whistle", another name for slide whistle ,

608-483: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, "The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is unlike other refuges in that it was not established for the protection of a specific species, but in order to protect the high water quality of the historic Suwannee River." The Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is "a connected web of Florida State Parks, preserves and wilderness areas" that stretches more than 170 miles (274 kilometers), from Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park to

640-454: The comb? When shall I hear the banjo strumming, Down in my good old home. Joel Whitburn identifies early successful recordings by Len Spencer (1892), Vess Ossman (1900), Haydn Quartet (1904), Louise Homer (1905), Alma Gluck (1915), Taylor Trio (1916) and by Oscar Seagle and Columbia Stellar Quartet (1919). The song enjoyed a revival in the 1930s with versions by Jimmie Lunceford and by Bunny Berigan . Bing Crosby sang

672-410: The little farm I wander’d, When I was young; Then many happy days I squander’d, Many the songs I sung. When I was playing with my brother, Happy was I. Oh, take me to my kind old mother, There let me live and die. 3rd Verse One little hut among the bushes, One that I love. Still sadly to my memory rushes, No matter where I rove. When will I see the bees a humming, All ‘round

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704-577: The native Timucua name of Guacara for the river that would later become known as the Suwannee . Different etymologies have been suggested for the modern name. The Suwannee River area has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. During the first millennium it was inhabited by the people of the Weedon Island culture , and around the year 900 a derivative local culture known as the Suwanee River Valley culture developed. By

736-557: The reworded version of the state song by statute , rather than by resolution like the 1935 decision. 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, Ebry where 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

768-480: The river. The steamboat Madison operated on the river before the Civil War , and the sulphur springs at White Springs became popular as a health resort, with 14 hotels in operation in the late 19th century. The Suwanee (given as "Swanee") is the locale of the protagonist's longed-for home in two famous songs: Steven Fosters 1851 " Old Folks at Home ", which is commonly called by its first line ("Way down upon

800-469: The song in the 1935 movie Mississippi and also recorded the song commercially the same year. Ray Charles used it as an inspiration for his 1957 remake of the song on the Atlantic label, entitled: "Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River)". Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen recorded a swing version of the song (using only the first verse and chorus twice over and substituting "Lordy" for "darkies") in 1962 for Pye Records . The recording appeared on

832-486: The song's performances at the 1955 Florida Folk Festival . As the official state song of Florida, "Old Folks at Home" has traditionally been sung as part of a Florida governor's inauguration ceremony. However, over time, the lyrics were progressively altered to be less offensive; as Diane Roberts observed: Florida got enlightened in 1978; we substituted "brothers" for "darkies". There were subsequent revisions. At Jeb Bush 's second inauguration as governor in 2003,

864-452: The song's popularity during the era, few people outside of Florida actually knew where the Suwannee River was, or that it was even a real place. Antonín Dvořák 's Humoresque No. 7 , written in the 1890s, is musically similar and is sometimes played along with "Old Folks at Home". The Library of Congress 's National Jukebox presents a version with soprano Alma Gluck and violinist Efrem Zimbalist Sr. Jean Arthur and Gary Cooper sing

896-584: The state, and it operates independently from the Florida Sheriffs Association, though the Sheriffs remain key supporters. Since its founding, the FSYR, Inc. has served more than 100,000 boys and girls and their families. FSYR, Inc. provides three main areas of services to the state. These include: FSYR has established six facilities throughout the state. The locations are: Suwannee River The Suwannee River (also spelled Suwanee River or Swanee River )

928-715: Was broken for a sister program to the Boys Ranch – the Girls Villa, followed by a third Youth Ranch in 1975. In 1977, the Boys Ranch, Girls Villa and a third Youth Ranch merged into one legal entity known as the Florida Sheriffs Youth Fund. In 1986, the Youth Fund underwent another title transformation as it legally changed its name to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc. The program now consists of six sites throughout

960-504: Was selected as the winner. The Florida Legislature considered the issue and ultimately adopted it as the state anthem while retaining "Old Folks at Home" as the state song, replacing its original lyrics with a revised version approved by scholars at the Stephen Foster Memorial . Governor Crist stated that he was not pleased by the "two songs" decision; but he signed the bill, creating a new state anthem and establishing

992-411: Was sung in place of "darkies" at the dedication of the new Florida state capitol building in 1978. In general, at public performances another word like "lordy", "mama", "darling", "brothers", "children", or "dear ones" is typically substituted. In practice, the pronunciation, as written in dialect, has long been disregarded in favor of the corresponding standard American English usage, as demonstrated by

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1024-454: 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? Way down upon

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