JEANNIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR
aka "I Dream Of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair"
(Stephen Foster c.1854)
Lambert Murphy - 1922

Also recorded by: Johnny Green; Jussi Bjöerling;
Bourbon Street Stompers; London Promenade Orch.;
Richard Crooks; Robert Farnon.


I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air
I see her tripping where the bright streams play
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way

Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er
Oh! I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft, summer air

I long for Jeannie with the day dawn smile
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die

Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again
Oh! I long for Jeannie, and my heart bows low
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow

I sigh for Jeannie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone

Now the nodding wild flow'rs may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more
Oh! I sigh for Jeannie with the light brown hair
Floating like a vapor, on the soft summer air


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - November 2004)


** This song was originally written as "Jennie With The Light Brown
Hair", but by the time it was officially published in 1854, the name
had changed to "Jeanie" with only one "n". Somewhere along the way,
the other "n" was added and her name became "Jeannie".