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On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away

Indiana State Song

Banks of the Wabash river; photo by Rob Slaven on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike).

Official State Song of Indiana

Indiana designated "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" by Paul Dresser as the official state song in 1913 (the Wabash River is also recognized as an official symbol of Indiana). All State Songs

Lyrics

Round my Indiana homestead wave the cornfields,
In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool,
Oftentimes my tho'ts revert to scenes of childhood,
Where I first received my lessons - nature's school.
But one thing there is missing in the picture,
Without her face it seems so incomplete,
I long to see my mother in the doorway,
As she stood there years ago, her boy to greet.
 
CHORUS
 
Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash,
From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay,
Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming,
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.
Many years have passed since I strolled by the river,
Arm in arm, with sweetheart Mary by my side,
It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her,
It was there I begged of her to be my bride.
Long years have passed since I strolled thro' the churchyard.
She's sleeping there, my angel, Mary dear,
I loved her, but she thought I didn't mean it,
Still I'd give my future were she only here.

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