The Little Old Cabin
In The Lane
by Martha Carson
Written in 1871 by Will S. Hays, a native of Kentucky and contemporary of Stephen Foster, these are the original lyrics to one of the many songs he wrote for the minstrels. Recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson on June 14, 1923, it became the first commercially marketed hillbilly record. It has spawned innumerable variants including "The Little Red Caboose Behind The Train" and "The Little Old Sod Shanty On The Plain."
— Dorothy Hortsman
The Little Old Cabin In The Lane
I'm getting old and feeble now, I cannot work no more
I've laid de rusty bladed hoe to rest
Ole massa an' ole miss's am dead, dey're sleepin' side by side
Deir spirits now are roaming wid de blest
De scene am changed about de place, de darkies am all gone
I'll nebber hear dem singing in de cane
And I'se de only one dat's left wid dis ole dog ob mine
De chimney's falling down, and de roof is cavin' in,
I ain't got long 'round here to remain
But de angels watches over me when I lays down to sleep
In de little old log cabin in de lane.
Dar was a happy time to me, 'twas many years ago
When de' darkies used to gather round de door
When dey used to sing an' dance at night, I played de ole banjo
But alas, I cannot play it no more
De hinges dey got rusted an' de door has tumbled down
An' de roof lets in de sunshine an' de rain
An' de only friend I've got now is dis good ole dog ob mine
In de little old log cabin in de lane.
De footpath now is covered o'er dat led us 'round de hill
An' de fences are all going to decay
An' de creek is all dried up where we used to go to mill
De time has turned its course anodder way
But I ain't got long to stay here, an' what little time I got
I'll try and be contented to remain
Till death shall call my dog an' me to find a better home
Dan dat old log cabin in de lane.
by Martha Carson
Written in 1871 by Will S. Hays, a native of Kentucky and contemporary of Stephen Foster, these are the original lyrics to one of the many songs he wrote for the minstrels. Recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson on June 14, 1923, it became the first commercially marketed hillbilly record. It has spawned innumerable variants including "The Little Red Caboose Behind The Train" and "The Little Old Sod Shanty On The Plain."
— Dorothy Hortsman
The Little Old Cabin In The Lane
I'm getting old and feeble now, I cannot work no more
I've laid de rusty bladed hoe to rest
Ole massa an' ole miss's am dead, dey're sleepin' side by side
Deir spirits now are roaming wid de blest
De scene am changed about de place, de darkies am all gone
I'll nebber hear dem singing in de cane
And I'se de only one dat's left wid dis ole dog ob mine
De chimney's falling down, and de roof is cavin' in,
I ain't got long 'round here to remain
But de angels watches over me when I lays down to sleep
In de little old log cabin in de lane.
Dar was a happy time to me, 'twas many years ago
When de' darkies used to gather round de door
When dey used to sing an' dance at night, I played de ole banjo
But alas, I cannot play it no more
De hinges dey got rusted an' de door has tumbled down
An' de roof lets in de sunshine an' de rain
An' de only friend I've got now is dis good ole dog ob mine
In de little old log cabin in de lane.
De footpath now is covered o'er dat led us 'round de hill
An' de fences are all going to decay
An' de creek is all dried up where we used to go to mill
De time has turned its course anodder way
But I ain't got long to stay here, an' what little time I got
I'll try and be contented to remain
Till death shall call my dog an' me to find a better home
Dan dat old log cabin in de lane.
