In the song "Oh Susanna" what the heck does this mean?

Question

The sun so hot I froze to death

Answer 1

I don't get it either. I think he loves that person. I just don't get the sun so hot I froze to death. It just doesn't make sense at all really.

Answer 2

It is just a silly song and an example of nonsense verse. If you read more, you will see that many of the lyrics are like that:

Oh I come from Alabama
with a banjo on my knee,
I'm a goin' ta Louisiana
mah 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,
Don't you cry for me
For I come from Alabama,
with my banjo on my knee.
I had a dream the other night
When everything was small,
I dreamt I saw Susanna
Coming up a hill,
The Buckwheat cake was in his mouth
The Tear were in his eye,
I said I'd come to take him home,
Susanna don't you cry.
Oh, Susanna,
Oh don't you cry for me,
For I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee.

Answer 3

Oh Susanna Song

Answer 4

Lyrics To Oh Susanna

Answer 5

This is the best and actual answer. That line is a reference to Alabama's crazy weather. "I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee". A common saying in Alabama is "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute". I am from Alabama, and just this week actually it has been in the 60's and warm until last night when it SNOWED! It got so hot this week I froze to death myself. That's actually how I ran across this question:) My dad explained this to me when I was little.

Answer 6

These are the original lyrics: 1.
I come from Alabama with my Banjo on my knee—
I'se gwine to Lou'siana my true lub for to see.
It rain'd all night de day I left, de wedder it was dry;
The sun so hot I froze to def—Susanna, don't you cry.

Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me;
I come from Alabama, wid my Banjo on my knee.

2. (This verse is rarely sung today.)
I jump'd aboard the telegraph and trabbeled down de ribber,
De lectrie fluid magnified, and kill'd five hundred ******.
De bullgine bust, de hoss ran off, I really thought I'd die;
I shut my eyes to hold my bref—Susanna, don't you cry.
Chorus:

3.
I had a dream de udder night, when ebry ting was still;
I thought I saw Susanna dear, a coming down de hill.
De buckweat cake was in her mouf, de tear was in her eye,
I says, I'se coming from de souf—Susanna, don't you cry.
Chorus:

Answer 7

The richest source of hyperbole (extravagant exaggeration) I ve ever heard. A personal childhood favorite.

It could also be the character experienced all of these extremes in a short period of time, making it seem as if it was all occurring at once. From what I understand, desert days are extremely hot; and desert nights extremely cold. This isn t so far-fetched anymore given the style of internet writing. When you have a limited time and space to post a comment, things tend to flow together.

Hope that makes sense...

Answer 8

The song is by Meatloaf, one of his few hits. And he's purposefully vague about what IT (the thing he won't do) is. I think it kinda leaves it open to the listener to ask themselves, what's the one thing *I* wouldn't do for love? What's the one thing you wouldn't give up, even for the love of your life? Everyone might have a different answer - their honor, their life, their religion, their freedom, etc. So the true message is more about YOUR response than the singer's.

Answer 9

This is the generally accepted intention of the lyric -

"I'm making fun of my own troubles! Sun so hot, froze to death! Ha ha! Cheer up!"

Answer 10

This was Stephen Foster at is best. It is typical frontier talk. The orignal lyrics were written with a "black minstrel" dialect - and are intended to be humorous with "nonsense" verse. Thus also "It rained all NIGHT - the DAY I left" and so on. This was written in 1848. Wikipedia has some good references to Foster and to Nonsense verse.