Missouri

Written by James Royce Shannon
Music by John Valentine Eppel as arranged by Frederick Knight Logan

Hush-a-bye, ma baby, slumber time is comin&apo soon;
Rest yo&apo head upon my breast, while mommy hums a tune;
The sandman is callin&apo, where shadows are fallin&apo,
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 on my mommy' knee;
The old folks were hummin&apo, their banjos were strummin&apo
So sweet and low.

Strum, strum, strum, strum, strum,
Seems I hear those banjos playin&apo once again,
Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum,
That same old plaintive strain.
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 song.

Hush a-bye, my baby, go to sleep on Mommy' knee,
Journey back to Dixieland in dreams again with me;
It seems like your Mommy is there again,
And the old folks were strummin&apo that old refrain.

Way down in Missouri where I learned this lullaby,
When the stars were blinkin&apo and the moon was climbin&apo high,
Seems I hear voices low, as in days long ago
Singin&apo hush a-bye.