This is a song written before 1850 and includes some jargon from the American South before the Civil War. Not all songs can be taken literally or even explained very well.
As one source says, The lyrics are largely nonsense,[3] as characterized by lines such as "It rain'd all night the day I left, The weather it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to death..." (first verse) and "I shut my eyes to hold my breath..." (second verse).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_Susanna
Much of it is also objectionable these days because the ante-bellum attitudes (racism) come through loud and clear. Note in the linked article above that there are now revised second and third stanzas.
Posted by rfvv on Friday, September 9, 2016 at 5:56pm.
Oh, Susanna,
Oh don't you cry for me
For I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
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What is the meaning of the sentences?
1. Don't cry for me, because I've come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee.
2. Are you crying now? Don't do that, because I've come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee.
3. Do you want to cry for me? You don't need to do so, because I've come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee.
4. What else.........
Does "Don't you cry for me" mean "Don't cry for me."
1 answer