Digital Tradition Mirror

The Bayou Sara

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Bayou Sara

Up the river, I cannot stay long,
   And the Bayou Sara she burned down,
She burned down to the water line,
   And the Bayou Sara she burned down.
   Bayou Sara she burned down,
   (The Bayou Sara she burned down),
   She burned down to the water line,
   And the Bayou Sara she burned down.

Whistle went "Whee" and the boiler went "Whomp!"
   And the Bayou Sara, she burned down,
Deck blew off and I had to jump,
   And the Bayou Sara she burned down.
   Bayou Sara she burned down,
   (The Bayou Sara she burned down),
   Deck blew off and I had to jump,
   And the Bayou Sara she burned down.

Similarly:
All the people got to squeal and squawk,
They looked up; they were about to fall.

Look over yonder and what did I see,
Captain and his mate were swimming toward me.

Look over yonder and what did I see,
Two bright angels coming for me.

Two bright angels swimming by my side,
Want to go to heaven when I die.

Swam till I couldn't swim no more,
Till the City of Arkansas took me on board.

Who could say it would be her last trip,
Finest boat on the Mississipp.

Recorded by Sara Grey & Ellie Ellis on "Making the Air Resound."
This version slightly modified so that it can be sung without
banjo accompaniment (on the recording, the second line of the
chorus is played on the banjo but not sung).

BW

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!