"Missouri Waltz" is the official

state song Forty-eight of the fifty U.S. states have one or more state songs, a type of regional anthem, which are selected by each state legislature as a symbol (or emblem) of that particular U.S. state. Some U.S. states have more than one official state ...

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

and is associated with the

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

History

The "Missouri Waltz", which had originally been a minstrel (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 ...

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 the ...

) 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 presby ...

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 by Frederic Knight Logan, using lyrics written by

James Royce Shannon James Royce Shannon (May 13, 1881 – May 19, 1946), born James Royce, was a nationally prominent Irish-American composer and lyricist. He was active at the time of Tin Pan Alley. Biography He was born in Adrian, Michigan. He is known chie ...

. First published in 1914, early popular versions were by The Victor Military Band,

Prince's Orchestra Charles Adams Prince (1869 – October 10, 1937) was an American conductor, bandleader, pianist and organist known for conducting the Columbia Orchestra and, later, Prince's Band and Orchestra.''Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound'', p. 860. He m ...

, Jaudas' Society Orchestra, Elsie Baker, Henry Burr & 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'' by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Sales increased substantially after Missourian Harry S Truman 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 ful ...

, 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 1800. ...

"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 Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...
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 by Marideth Sisco for the opening scene of the 2010 film '' Winter's Bone'' which starred

Jennifer Lawrence Jennifer Shrader Lawrence (born August 15, 1990) is an American actress. The world's highest-paid actress in 2015 and 2016, her films have grossed over $6 billion worldwide to date. She appeared in ''Time''s 100 most influential people i ...

in her breakout role. 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 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 Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

- recorded June 9, 1939 with John Scott Trotter 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 wh ...

in 1946. *

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

- recorded in December 1947 for Columbia Records (catalog No. 20524) * Mance Lipscomb - recorded May 2, 1964, released in 1993 by Arhoolie Records (catalog # CD 398). Lipscomb learned to play it when he was a boy, from his father who was a fiddler. * Mantovani (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, ...

- recorded September 21, 1927 with a vocal group comprising

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 and Austin Young. *

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing ...

- recorded December 14, 1948 *

Roy Fox Roy Fox (October 25, 1901 – March 20, 1982) was an American-born British dance bandleader who was popular in Britain during the British dance band era. Early life and career Roy Fox was born in Denver, Colorado, United States. He and his ...

and his Band (vocal: Al Bowlly) - recorded January 24, 1931 ( Al Bowlly Discography) *

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...

- 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