Oh, Susanna
Oh, I came from Alabama with my banjo on my knee,
And I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry.
The sun so hot I froze to death, Susanna don't you cry
Oh, Susanna, Oh, don't you cry for me
I came from Alabama with my banjo on my knee.
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And I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see
Question 1: What is the meaning of 'my true love for to see'? It doesn't seem to be grammatical? Don't you think so?
Question 2: The weather it was dry.
This is not grammatical as well? Would you explain why Poster wote this way?
John, music is poetry. Sometimes poetry is not exactly grammatically structured in order that rhyme or meter can be maintained.
"my true love for to see" has to rhyme and match the meter of "my banjo on my knee"
"The weather, it was dry" is grammatical. However, that word arrangement fits the meter and the rhyme of "Susanna, don't you cry".
Hope this answers your questions.
2 answers