Lyr Add: Indiana Lullaby (2 songs)

Subject: Lyr Add: INDIANA LULLABY (Kiefer/Richardville)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 07:48 AM

Note that this is one of two songs with the same title.

You can see the sheet music at the Archive of Popular Music at UCLA. (Click for a PDF.)


INDIANA LULLABY
Words by Louis J. Kiefer. Music by Mrs. Paul Richardville.
Vincennes, Ind.: The Stout Music Co., ©1921.

1. Softly stars are now peepin'
From their homes up in the sky.
Through the meadows are creepin'
The witches and the goblins sly.
Have no fear, little piccaninny.*
You're safe from harm on Mammy's* knee,
So drift and dream on slumber's stream
While I sing the Hoosier's melody:

CHORUS: Can't you see the candle light a-glowin'
On Mammy's* cabin by the Wabash shore?
Can't you hear the gentle breezes blowin'
Through each stately sycamore?
The harvest moon forever keeps a-swingin'
Like a golden gate in the sky.
The nightingales keep a-singin'
That sweet old Indiana lullaby.

2. Softly now! Baby's sleepin'
Peaceful as the sky above.
On his lips smiles are creepin'.
He's dreamin' fondest dreams of love.
Still that melody keeps a-comin'.
From singin' it I can't refrain.
So dream sweet dreams till morning beams,
While I sing this melody again: CHORUS

[* The word "piccaninny" would be unacceptable today, and probably "Mammy" also. "Hoosier," however, is perfectly acceptable!]

Subject: Lyr Add: INDIANA LULLABY (Terriss/Kendall)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 07:55 AM

While researching songs sung by the Happiness Boys, I discovered that there are 2 songs with the title INDIANA LULLABY published only a year apart. Having invested the time to transcribe the wrong one at first, I figured I might as well post it anyway (see above). The one I wanted is below.

You can see the sheet music for this one at the Archive of Popular American Music at UCLA (Click for a PDF.), or hear the song sung by the Happiness Boys at YouTube:


INDIANA LULLABY
Words by Dorothy Terriss. Music by Don Kendall.
New York: Leo. Feist, Inc., ©1922.

1. There's a melody that ever, ever haunts me,
Always in my memory;
Makes me homesick, lonesome; gives me such a longing,
For I hear it calling me.

CHORUS: Softly on the breeze,
Whisp'ring through the trees,
Comes this Indiana lullaby.
Always in my dreams,
Day and night it seems,
I can hear its plaintive little sigh.
There's a tugging at my heartstrings.
Indiana's calling me,
So I'll be going soon,
Just to hear the croon
Of that sweet old Indiana lullaby.

2. How I long to see that Indiana homestead,
And the flowers round the door!
There I know I'll nestle in two loving arms,
And hear that lullaby once more.


[Verse 2 is from the sheet music. The Happiness Boys sing only verse 1 and the chorus (twice).]