Happy birthday, Paul Dresser!
IndianaStateSong.com officially launched today, April 22, 2007, the 149th birthday of Paul Dresser, author of the Indiana State Song, "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away." Join us in wishing a happy birthday to one of the most important songwriters in the history of American popular music. The information on this page will be continually updated as new information becomes available; so, come back often.
Introduction to the Indiana state song
As a songwriter who was born and raised in Indiana and proud to claim the title Hoosier, I didn't think it was right for me to create a music site without including a special tribute to the Indiana State Song. Paul Dresser, the song's composer, has always been a personal hero of mine. In fact, Mr. Dresser's membership in the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was a huge factor in my own decision to join that particular performing rights organization.
Back when I was a schoolboy studying Indiana history in Holland, Indiana and even later as a college student in Paul Dresser's hometown of Terre Haute, students didn't have the benefit of the Internet to help them along. Now that more recent students do, I hope this page will play some small role in helping them learn something about our Indiana heritage--particularly treasures like our state song.
Lyrics
On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away
Round my Indiana homestead wave the cornfields,
In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool.
Often times my thoughts revert to scenes of childhood.
Where I first received my lessons, nature's school.
But one thing is missing in the picture,
Without her face it seems so incomplete.
I long to see my mother in the doorway
As she stood there years ago her boy to greet.
(Chorus)
Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash
From the fields there comes the breath of new mown hay.
Thro' the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming,
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.
Many years have passed since I strolled by the river,
Arm in arm with sweetheart Mary by my side.
It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her,
It was there I begged of her to be my bride.
Long years have passed since I strolled thro' the churchyard
She's sleeping there my angel Mary dear.
I loved her but she thought I didn't mean it.
Still I'd give my future were she only here.
(Chorus)
History of the State Song of Indiana
"On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away" was published in 1897, during the time Paul Dresser, the man who wrote it, was the most popular songwriter in America. The song calls to mind the spirit of the Hoosier state and one of its most beloved rivers. The Indiana General Assembly declared the song the official state song of Indiana on March 14, 1913.
Paul Dresser, Author of the Indiana State Song
Paul Dresser was born Johann Paul Dreiser, Jr. in Terre Haute, Indiana on April 22, 1858. He was an older brother of Theodore Dreiser, who would become a famous novelist. Like many Hoosiers from that part of the state, the Dreiser family was German Catholic. Young Paul spent time studying at St. Meinrad's seminary to become a priest, but the call to music was ultimately stronger than Paul's father's wish to have a priest in the family. Dresser played in medicine and minstrel shows throughout the midwest until finally settling in New York City where he wrote and published music. He became a principal owner of publishing house Howley, Haviland & Dresser and wrote scores of songs, including "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away," which became Indiana's state song. Dresser was part of Manhattan's Tin Pan Alley music movement.
Despite his early success as a songwriter, Dresser spent as much money as he was able to make during his career, was particularly generous to family and friends, bad at running a business and slow to adapt to America's changing appetite for musical styles. He died peniless at his sister's house in New York City on January 30, 1906 at the age of 47. Dresser's last big hit "My Gal Sal" inspired a movie about his life.
Accept no substitutes
"On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away" became so popular that shortly after it was published, a "Weird Al" Yankovic of the day by the name of H. Bower wrote a parody of the song called "My Bank Is In the Wabash Far Away." By 1917, a less-humorous reincarnation of the song appeared. James Hanley and Ballard McDonald plagiarized the lyrics, music and musical feel of "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away" to create a "new" song called "Back Home Again in Indiana"--often just called "Indiana." "Indiana" sounds so similar to "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away" and is played so often and on such important occasions that many people are fooled into thinking "Indiana" is Indiana's state song.
| Indianapolis 500: Wrong since 1946
"Back Home Again in Indiana," the wrong song has been sung before Indiana's big race since the track was re-opened after World War II, the first race under the ownership of Tony Hulman. Since 1972, the song has been sung by Jim Nabors, the actor who portrayed Gomer Pyle on TV. Other wrong institutions include the Purdue University Marching Band, the Indiana State Museum and various Hoosier television stations.
Please take a moment to contact these wrong institutions and let them know the state song of Indiana is "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away"--NOT "Back Home Again in Indiana"! Our state song is beautiful and not particularly difficult to perform. Make sure you and/or your children know the song and ensure it is used in ways and on occasions a state song deserves to be used. Don't let wrong Hoosiers stay wrong. |
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Note to students
As I mentioned in my introduction, my goal here, in addition to honoring Paul Dresser, his wonderful contribution to the state of Indiana and Indiana herself, is to help you learn something about our state's history. In particular, if something is missing that would have helped you learn more or complete an assignment more easily or quickly, feel free to report it using the contact feature. I plan to keep this page up to date as more complete information comes to my attention, and I welcome you to play a part in making the page more useful to you.
Note to teachers
Your comments, additions and corrections to the information on this page are welcome. Feel free to send me a note via the contact feature. Also, even though the site is copyrighted, making hard copies of the page to hand out in class would be considered well within acceptable use. You don't need to let me know when you use something, but it would probably make my day to hear about it; so, feel free to contact me!
Linking to/citing this site
If you would like to link to this site, please point your anchor tag to http://IndianaStateSong.com/. When citing this page as a source or when writing about it, please refer to it as IndianaStateSong.com. Doing both in the same tag yields something very similar to the following: IndianaStateSong.com. All links and referrals are appreciated. Thanks!
IndianaStateSong.com is maintained by Den Hollinden (ASCAP.) Like Paul Dresser, Den is a Hoosier German Catholic singer, ASCAP songwriter and publisher. Den founded Denuine Publishing (ASCAP.) He creates music with a rootsy, traditional sound that paints scenes of Americana, often from his native southern Indiana. Good examples are "The Basketball Song" and "St. Henry Christmas." Hollinden currently lives and works in the Washington, DC area where he was originally stationed for duty in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting at Paul Dresser's birthplace, Terre Haute, Indiana. Den Hollinden is a recording artist for Denuine Records.
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