"Missouri Waltz" is the official state song of

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

and is associated with the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU was founded in ...

History

The "Missouri Waltz", which had originally been a

minstrel A minstrel was an entertainer, initially in medieval Europe. It originally described any type of entertainer such as a musician, juggler, acrobat, singer or fool; later, from the sixteenth century, it came to mean a specialist entertainer ...

(later

ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...

before it finally became

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...

) song, became the state song under an act adopted by the

General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presb ...

on June 30, 1949. The song came from a melody John Valentine Eppel heard Lee Edgar Settle play. Mr. Settle was a well known rag time piano player and the song he wrote and played, The Graveyard Waltz, was the actual melody for the Missouri Waltz. John V. Eppel claimed he wrote it but it was well known at the time that the melody was actually written by Lee Edgar Settle. The Missouri Waltz was

arranged In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchest ...

by Frederic Knight Logan, using lyrics written by James Royce Shannon. First published in 1914, early popular versions were by The Victor Military Band, Prince's Orchestra, Jaudas' Society Orchestra,

Elsie Baker Elsie Baker (July 13, 1883 – August 16, 1971) was an American actress. Her career spanned the gamut from vaudeville through silent movies to radio to Hollywood and television. She has sometimes been confused with the American contralto El ...

Henry Burr Henry Burr (January 15, 1882 – April 6, 1941) was a Canadian singer, radio performer and producer. He was born Harry Haley McClaskey and used Henry Burr as one of his many pseudonyms, in addition to Irving Gillette, Henry Gillette, Alfred Alex ...

& Albert Campbell, and by

Earl Fuller Earl Bunn Fuller (March 7, 1885 – August 19, 1947) was a pioneering American ragtime and early jazz bandleader, composer and instrumentalist. Fuller helped to initiate the popularity of jazz in New York City shortly before America's entry into W ...

. The song enjoyed fresh success in 1939 when it was featured in the film ''

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle ''The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle'' is a 1939 American biographical musical comedy directed by H.C. Potter. The film stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, and Walter Brennan. The film is based on the stories ''My Husband'' and ...

'' by

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

. Sales increased substantially after Missourian

Harry S Truman Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...

became

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

, and it was reported that the "Missouri Waltz" was his favorite song. Although, when asked about his feelings the following reply was published by the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

"President's attitude towards the song? He can take it or leave it. Is it really his favorite? No. Does he play it often? No. Is Margaret ever heard singing it? No. What is the President's reaction to song's adoption by Missouri as state song? See answer to first question."

Although the song is often associated with Harry Truman, the president did not claim it as his favorite song. In fact, he had this to say about it in a television interview: "If you let me say what I think, I don't give a ... about it, but I can't say it out loud because it's the song of Missouri. It's as bad as '

The Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the b ...

' as far as music is concerned." The song was performed

a capella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

by Marideth Sisco for the opening scene of the 2010 film ''

Winter's Bone ''Winter's Bone'' is a 2010 American coming-of-age mystery drama film directed by Debra Granik. It was adapted by Granik and Anne Rosellini from the 2006 novel of the same name by Daniel Woodrell. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as a povert ...

'' which starred Jennifer Lawrence in her

breakout role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the film industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition. The si ...

. The song is played by the

Marching Mizzou Marching Mizzou, M2, or The Big 'M' of the Midwest is the performing marching band for the University of Missouri, founded in 1885 as a college military band. Originally consisting of only 12 members, it is now the largest student organization on ...

at every home football game to a unique marching style in 3/4 time. Singer

Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...

reports that the Missouri Waltz has been an

earworm An earworm, sometimes referred to as a brainworm, sticky music, stuck song syndrome, or, most commonly after earworms, Involuntary Musical Imagery (INMI), is a catchy and/or memorable piece of music or saying that continuously occupies a person ...

in recent years.

Lyrics

''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 the 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 Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

(heaven), 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 (paradise) in dreams again with me; ''
''It seems like your Mommy is 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,''
''Seems I hear voices low, as in days long ago, ''
''Singin' hush-a-bye. ''
The original 1914 lyrics:
''Hush-a-bye, ma baby, slumbertime is comin' soon;''
''Rest yo' head upon my chest while Mammy hums a tune; ''
''The sandman is callin' where shadows are fallin', ''
''While the soft breezes sigh as in days long gone by. ''
''Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody, ''
''When I was a Pickaninny on ma Mammy's knee; ''
''The darkies 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

, it seems,''
''When you hear that old time song. ''
''Hush-a-bye ma baby, go to sleep on Mammy's knee,''
''Journey back to Dixieland in dreams again with me; ''
''It seems like your Mammy was there once again, ''
''And the darkies 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 Mammy Cloe, as in days long ago, ''
''Singin' hush-a-bye. ''

Other notable recordings

* Bing Crosby - recorded June 9, 1939 with

John Scott Trotter John Scott Trotter Jr. (June 14, 1908 – October 29, 1975), also known as "Uncle John", was an American arranger, composer and orchestra leader. Trotter was best known for conducting the John Scott Trotter Orchestra which backed singer and ...

and His Orchestra. *

The Fontane Sisters The Fontane Sisters were a trio (Bea, Geri and Marge Rosse) from New Milford, New Jersey. Early years Born to an Italian family, their mother, Louise Rosse, was both a soloist and the leader of the St. Joseph's Church choir in New Milford. Bea ...

- recorded for

Musicraft Records Musicraft Records was a record company and label established in 1937 in New York City. Catalogue Musicraft's catalog encompassed many different musical styles, including classical music, folk, jazz, Latin, popular vocal, and calypso. Artists w ...

in 1946. * Gene Autry - recorded in December 1947 for Columbia Records (catalog No. 20524) *

Mance Lipscomb Mance Lipscomb (April 9, 1895 – January 30, 1976) was an American blues singer, guitarist and songster. He was born Beau De Glen Lipscomb near Navasota, Texas. As a youth he took the name Mance (short for ''emancipation'') from a friend of hi ...

- recorded May 2, 1964, released in 1993 by

Arhoolie Records Arhoolie Records is an American small independent record label run by Chris Strachwitz and is based in El Cerrito, California, United States (it is actually located in Richmond Annex but has an El Cerrito postal address.) The label was founded ...

(catalog # CD 398). Lipscomb learned to play it when he was a boy, from his father who was a fiddler. *

Mantovani Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (; 15 November 1905 – 29 March 1980) was an Anglo-Italian conductor, composer and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book ''British Hit Singles & Albums'' sta ...

(1962) *

Paul Whiteman Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist. As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 1930s, W ...

- recorded September 21, 1927 with a vocal group comprising Bing Crosby,

Al Rinker Al Rinker (December 20, 1907 – June 11, 1982) was an American musician who began his career as a teen performing with Bing Crosby in the early 1920s in Spokane, Washington. In 1925 the pair moved to Los Angeles, eventually forming the Rhythm ...

, Charles Gaylord,

Jack Fulton John Collins Fulton (June 13, 1903 – November 13, 1993) was an American composer, trombonist, and vocalist. At the age of 17, he started playing the trombone for small-town dances. He sang with the Mason-Dixon Orchestra. He also played the tro ...

and Austin Young. * Perry Como - recorded December 14, 1948 * Roy Fox and his Band (vocal:

Al Bowlly Albert Allick Bowlly (7 January 1898 – 17 April 1941) was a Mozambican-born South African– British vocalist and jazz guitarist, who was popular during the 1930s in Britain. He recorded more than 1,000 songs. His most popular songs includ ...

) - recorded January 24, 1931 ( Al Bowlly Discography) * Johnny Cash - released 2006

References

External links

Missouri Secretary of State's webpage

Recording of Marching Mizzou performing the Missouri Waltz
{{authority control Music of Missouri United States state songs Songs about Missouri University of Missouri Waltzes Songs written by James Royce Shannon 1914 songs American country music songs Songs about death Songs about farmers Heaven in popular culture National anthem compositions in E major

History

Lyrics

Other notable recordings

References

Further reading

External links