ANNA IN INDIANA
(Billy Gorman / Eddie Gorman / Harry Rose) 


Arthur Fields - 1921
Eddie Cantor - 1921


Also recorded by: Billy Jones; Francis Hennings.




I just got a letter from a Hoosier girl of mine
She said, "Sweetie dear, wish that you were here"
Kissin' that I'm missin' makes me long for you again
So I'm going to pack my grip and hop aboard a train


To see my Anna in Indiana
She's just as playful as a baby grand piana
She went to school, though you wouldn't think so
For a dumber girl could never live
She thanks me for each kiss I give
Anna in Indiana
Will have my arms as far around her as they'll go
Town girls want your good behaviour
Kiss a Rube girl, it's a favour
I'm going back to Indiana


I just sent a wire to that Hoosier girl of mine
I said, "Dear, prepare, I will soon be there
You can tell the Rubens I am coming there to stay"
I have brought a wedding ring and now I'm on my way


To wed my Anna in Indiana
She's just as playful as a baby grand piana
Not very nifty, weighs just two-fifty
But a great big fat girl now and then
Is relished by the best of men
Anna in Indiana
Will have my arms as far around her as they'll go
I'm all through with Broadway Sallys
Now I long for hills and valleys
I'm going back to Indiana


Anna in Indiana
She finds her chickens roosting on a square piana
As we were wooing, the birds were cooing
But as I said, "Anna, I love you"
A cow let out a loud mooooo
Anna in Indiana
Would like to have me hearing cock-a-doodle-doo
Ducks are calling, Anna's falling
I'm going back to Indiana


(Transcribed from the Arthur Fields
recording by Mel Priddle - August 2007)




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ALTERNATE VERSION:




I just got a letter from a Hoosier girl of mine
She said, "Sweetie dear, wish that you were here"
Kissin' that I'm missin' makes me long for her again
So I'm going to pack my grip and hop aboard a train


To see my Anna in Indiana
She's just as playful as a baby grand piana
Not very nifty, weighs two-fifty
But a great big fat girl now and then
Is relished by the best of men
Anna from Indiana
Will put my arms around as far as they will go
I'm all through with Broadway Sallys
Now I long for hills and valleys
I'm going back to Indiana


Anna will be at the train to meet me with the flivver
She always brings the lambs and pigs when e'er she comes to town
Just for extra company she brings the chickens with her
I stand up going home and let the animals sit down


I'm going back to Indiana
I'll see my Anna from Indiana
She's just as playful as a baby grand piana
She owns one acre, I'm going to make her
Go and find a place to live uptown
She hides the farm when she sits down
Anna in Indiana
Will put my arms around as far as they will go
When I buy her sasperilla
She thinks I'm a Rockerfeller


I'll be drinking sasperilla with her brother and her Pa
The Reubens will be dancing to "The Turkey in the Straw"
They'll know I'm from the city by the color of my neck
But I don't care by heck


I'm going back to Indiana
To wed my Anna in Indiana
She's just as playful as a baby grand piana
With all the women she went in swimmin'
But the women started in to shake
For fear she'd overflow the lake
Anna in Indiana
Will put my arms around as far as they will go
She's not rough, she's sentimental
She's not Jewish, she is gentle
I'm going back to Indiana
 














(Contributed by Mel - August 2007)