Missouri State Song

"Missouri Waltz"

Lyrics: James Royce Shannon

Music: John Valentine Eppel

Arrangement: Frederic Knight Logan

Adoption: 1949

HISTORY

The song "Missouri Waltz" was not created all at once, and it did not become popular for many years after it was published. The melody, whose origins are disputed, was first published by Frederic Knight Logan as an instrumental piece in 1912. Two years later, it was published again, with lyrics by James Royce Shannon in the style of minstrel shows. After a very slow start, the song started to become popular, selling six million copies by 1939. It was played in 1944 at the Democratic National Convention during the nomination of Harry Truman for vice-president. During Truman’s later presidency, he played the tune on the piano, causing a resurgence in the song’s popularity. "Missouri Waltz" was proposed to the legislature as the official state song in 1949, but before it was enacted, offensive references such as "pickaninnies" and "darkies" in the original lyrics were removed.  -World Trade Press

LYRICS

"Missouri Waltz"

Hush-a-bye, ma baby, slumbertime is comin' soon;
Rest yo' head upon my breast while Mommy hums a tune;
The sandman is callin' where shadows are fallin',
While soft breezes sigh as in days long gone by.

Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody,
When I was a little child upon my Mommy's knee;
The old folks were hummin'; their banjos were strummin';
So sweet and low.

Strum, strum, strum, strum, strum,
Seems I hear those banjos playin' once again,
Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum,
That same old plaintive strain.

Hear that mournful melody,
It just haunts you the whole day long,
And you wander in dreams back to Dixie, it seems,
When you hear that old time song.

Hush-a-bye ma baby, go to sleep on Mommy's knee,
Journey back to Dixieland in dreams again with me;
It seems like your Mommy was there once again,
And the old folks were strummin' that same old refrain.

Way down in Missouri where I learned this lullaby,
When the stars were blinkin' and the moon was climbin' high,
And I hear voices low, as in days long ago,
Singin' hush-a-bye.