THE MISSOURI WALTZ
Adopted As The Official Missouri State Song In 1949
(Written by J. R. Shannon / Music by John Valentine Eppel)


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 banjoes were strummin'; 
So sweet and low. 

Strum, strum, strum, strum, strum, 
Seems I hear those banjoes 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, 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 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.