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."
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.
The meaning of the sentences can vary depending on the context and interpretation. However, here's an explanation of the possible meanings for each sentence:
1. "Don't cry for me, because I've come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee." - This sentence suggests that the speaker does not want the listener to feel sadness or sympathy for them, as they have come from Alabama with their banjo. It could imply that they are confident, cheerful, or self-sufficient.
2. "Are you crying now? Don't do that, because I've come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee." - In this sentence, the speaker is addressing someone who might be crying and telling them not to do so. They use the fact that they have come from Alabama with their banjo as a reason for the listener not to cry.
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." - This sentence asks the listener if they want to cry on the speaker's behalf, possibly as an expression of sympathy. The speaker then reassures the listener that there is no need to cry, as they have already come from Alabama with their banjo, suggesting they are content or proud of their situation.
4. The sentence "Don't you cry for me" is equivalent to saying "Don't cry for me." It is a statement emphasizing that the speaker does not want the listener to cry on their behalf. The use of "Don't you" adds a bit more emphasis or intensity to the statement.
Although these explanations provide possible interpretations, the true meaning and intentions behind the lyrics may be better understood within the larger context of the song.