Where, oh where, oh where is Susie?
Where, oh where, oh where is Susie?
Where, oh where, oh where is Susie?
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.

Come on, boys, let’s go find her,
Come on, boys, let’s go find her,
Come on, boys, let’s go find her,
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.

Pickin’ up pawpaws, puttin’ ’em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up pawpaws, puttin’ ’em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up pawpaws, puttin’ ’em in your pockets,
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.

I shared some facts about Pawpaw trees on X yesterday, and tons of folks posted the lyrics to the above song. I can’t believe I’d never heard it before!

Way Down Yonder in the Pawpaw Patch is an Appalachian folk song. Sung to the tune of Ten Little Indians, it was popular in the ’60s and ’70s.

It made my heart happy to learn that, especially since pawpaws are frequently called hillbilly bananas.

I’m not sure how they got that nickname. Pawpaw trees are native to the East Coast and thrive in all 100 counties of North Carolina—not just the Appalachian ones. They prefer hardwood forests near fertile river bottoms, often growing as understory trees.

I found some in the Mayo River State Park when I visited Rockingham County. I’ve always wanted to try the fruit but haven’t been lucky enough to stumble across them while they’re ripe.

Pawpaws ripen from midsummer through the first frost. They’re ready to be picked when they give off a fruity aroma and feel a little soft under a gentle squeeze.

They are the largest indigenous fruits in the United States, and I hear they’re downright delicious.

The skin and seeds aren’t edible, but the flesh has a custard-like texture. Folks say its flavor has hints of banana, mango, and pineapple.

Unfortunately, you can’t just run out to the grocery store and buy them. Pawpaws have a very short shelf life. Because of that, they’re known as the forgotten fruit.

If you want to try pawpaws, you’ve got to find them at a farmer’s market or out in the wild.

That’s what makes them so special, though. Finding them is like an alignment of the cosmos. You have to be in the right place at the right time, and even then, the wildlife might beat you to them. 

Deer, raccoons, and birds love pawpaws as much as we do.

But the thrill of the hunt is half the fun. There’s something magical about stumbling across this native fruit and knowing you are partaking in a North Carolina tradition that’s existed for centuries.

Pawpaws were a vital food source for Native Americans, and early settlers—including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson—were known to enjoy them as well.

Hopefully, I will get my hands on some eventually. Until then, I’ll keep searching for pawpaws while I’m out in the woods. When I finally find some, you best believe I am loading up on the elusive fruits.

Have you ever found pawpaws? If so, you’ve got to tell me where your hillbilly banana honey hole is at!