Russian Lullaby

Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home” (1851), known by its opening line “Way down upon the Swanee River,” became one of America’s most familiar melodies. The song’s beauty and melancholy are undeniable, though its origins lie in a tradition that has caused pain and division. This version, “Old Folks at Home (East River),” adapts the lyrics and setting to the Lower East Side of New York City, where I live and record. It preserves the sense of longing and belonging while transforming the song into a portrait of my own neighborhood and time. #StephenFoster #JasonPaul #AmericanSong #LowerEastSide #shorts