A commercial blues about Indiana that is often played instrumentally, 1921
words by Dave Ringle
music by Fred Meinken
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Nearly broken hearted since the day that I once started
From my Wabash home
Indiana’s sweet and it’s a place that’s hard to beat
But then I longed to roam
My old homestead I now can see
I had a girl was as sweet as could be
Now every day I’m so lonesome it’s misery
Chorus
Oh, those Wabash blues, I know I got my dues
A lonesome soul am I, I feel that I could die
Candle light that gleams, haunts me in my dreams
I’ll pack my walking shoes, to lose those Wabash blues
- I am just a mourner for each little nook and corner
That I used to know
No more will I linger ’cause I see a warning finger
Pointing where to go
There’s no reason why I should stay
I’ll take a hint and I’ll beat it away
Old memories bring recollections the while I say
Patter Chorus:
Through the sycamore the candle light is shining bright
Memory brings the scent of new mown hay to me each night
I am starting for that spot no need to ask me when
I’ll be leaving hoofprints toward the old home road again
Expect to see the moonshine on the Wabash any night
Seems that such a picture’s bound to turn me to the right
Making up my mind to see that home so far away
But until that happens here’s the best that I can say
Sung here by Fred Feild: