Watch the music video and discover trivia about this classic Pop song now. It is most often associated with singer Al Jolson.. How I love you, how I love ! Accurate in its period costumes, SWANEE RIVER is given lavish Technicolor, the charm of Andrea Leeds, and the rich singing voice of Al Jolson. ... Swanee ! However, I have always been led to believe the last song he wrote was "Beautiful Dreamer." Lyrics to Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) by Al Jolson from the Stephen Foster in Contrast album - including song video, artist biography, translations and more! Swanee River is a 1939 American film directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Don Ameche, Andrea Leeds, Al Jolson, and Felix Bressart. Swanee Lyrics: I've been away from you a long time / I never thought I'd miss you so / Somehow I feel / Your love is real / Near you I want to be / The birds are singing it is song time / The Way down upon the Swanee River, Far, far away That's where my heart is yearning ever, Home where the old folks stay Way down upon the Swanee River… Swanee Lyrics: I've been away from you a long time / I never thought I'd miss you so / Somehow I feel / Your love is real / Near you I want to be / The birds are singing it is song time / The Lyrics and video for the song Swanee by Al Jolson - Songfacts. The movie may not be completely historically accurate but it includes several of Stephen Foster's songs that Al Jolson sings. Since 1935 it has been the official state song of Florida, although in … Al Jolson, byname of Asa Yoelson, (born May 26, 1886, Srednike, Russia [now Seredžius, Lithuania]—died October 23, 1950, San Francisco, California, U.S.), popular American singer and blackface comedian of the musical stage and motion pictures, from before World War I to 1940. His unique singing style and personal magnetism established an immediate rapport with audiences. I had a big surprise today while in a ten cent photo play, I Really saw my old home town way down in Dixieland It was Simply grand, just to Gershwin attended a party for Jolson and, as was typical for him, found his way to the piano and played (and sang), among other songs, "Swanee." Sadly for the legendary Jolson, who is in excellent form both in acting and singing (mostly in black-face), this became his last movie as a featured performer. "Swanee" is an American popular song written in 1919 by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Irving Caesar. Way down upon the Swanee River, Far, far away That's where my heart is yearning ever, Home where the old folks stay Way down upon the Swanee River… In 1920 the #1 song in the charts was Swanee by Al Jolson. Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) This song is by Al Jolson and appears on the compilation album Memories... (2010). Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) This song is by Al Jolson and appears on the compilation album Memories... (2010). My dear ol' Swanee I'd give the world to be Among the folks in D-I-X-I-E-ven no[w]My mammy's Waiting for me Praying for me Down by the Swanee The folks up north will see me no more Al Jolson - Down Where the Swanee River Flows Lyrics. "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "Swanee River") is a minstrel song written by Stephen Foster in 1851. It is a biopic about Stephen Foster, a songwriter from Pittsburgh who falls in love with the South, marries a Southern girl, … The movie ends with what is assumed to be Foster's last song, "Swanee River." When Jolson heard the song he immediately told his arranger and music director Al Goodman, who was also there, to get it for him.