The Missouri Waltz is the state song of Missouri, with disputed origins and lyrics written by James Royce Shannon. It gained popularity during Harry S. Truman’s presidential run and was adopted as the state song in 1949 after some racially insensitive lyrics were changed. The tune existed before lyrics were written and may have been passed down as a lullaby.
The Missouri Waltz is the official state song of Missouri. The exact origin of the tune is a matter of debate, and the lyricist also wrote under several names, including James Royce, James Royce Shannon and Jim Shannon. The song achieved national popularity in the mid-1940s during Harry S. Truman’s presidential run, despite the fact that he reportedly didn’t care much for it. When Truman became president, State Representative Floyd Snyder suggested that it become the official state song of Missouri. After some of the lyrics, considered by some to be racially insensitive, were rewritten, the Missouri Waltz was adopted in June 1949.
The Missouri Waltz tune existed for many years before lyrics were written to accompany it. Most historians credit the music to John Eppel, a conductor in Iowa, but he may have heard it before from several African American artists and musicians in various parts of the Midwest. Eventually, the song found its way to Frederick Knight Logan, who developed an original arrangement and sold it in 1914 to the Forster Publishing Company of Chicago. At that point, Jim Shannon was hired to write lyrics to accompany the waltz, and the future state song of Missouri was born.
After the song was played at the 1944 Democratic National Convention, at which Truman was nominated for vice president, it continued to grow in popularity. A White House statement during Truman’s presidency said that he didn’t really like the song, but that hasn’t deterred the movement to make it Missouri’s state song. Opponents said it was inappropriate because it contained racist lyrics and said nothing in particular about the state itself, but supporters of the song prevailed after some offensive words were changed.
The words of the Missouri Waltz sound like a lullaby, and it was released under the original title Hush-A-Bye Ma Ba(Missouri Waltz). The opening lines are “Hush-a-bye, but baby, slumbertime is coming soon; Rest your head on my chest while mom hums a tune; The sandman is calling where the shadows fall, while the breezes sigh as in days gone by. The mother is singing to her baby her memories of Dixieland, where her mother used to sing her the same tune as a child. The state song of Missouri was most likely passed down through many generations as a lullaby before attaining its current status as a state symbol.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
