The MINNESOTA HERITAGE SONGBOOK

Produced by the Fort Snelling State Park Association
and supported in part by a grant from the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission

Click on one of the links below to play a MIDI file of the song indicated. Songs marked * also have a copy of the text.

*A La Claire Fontaine A love song sung by the Voyageurs
*The Banks of the Little Eau Pleine A lumberman's tragicomedy, from the composer, William N. Allen, or "Shan T. Boy."
*The Banks of the Wabash A very popular song written by Paul Dresser shortly before 1900 and sung by M. C. Dean
*The Bigler's Crew A song of Great Lakes sailing, from M. C. Dean (This entry contains additional information not in the printed Heritage Songbook.)
*Billie Johnson of Lundy's Lane A rare Civil War song sung by M. C. Dean
**Boney A sailor's chanty about Napoleon Bonaparte. (This entry contains additional information not in the printed Heritage Songbook.)
*Brave Wolfe A tale of the Siege of Quebec, and how eastern Minnesota came into English hands
*C'est L'aviron A paddling song of the Voyageurs who explored Minnesota to gather furs
*Cole Younger A story of the outlaw who failed in the Northfield Bank robbery
*The Colorado Trail A short song of lost love, from a "hoss wrangler" in Duluth
*Dance, Boatman, Dance Probably first heard in Minnesota in 1856, when the "showboat" Banjo brought a minstrel act to Saint Paul
*Darling Nelly Gray A song about the hard times of slaves in the 1850s, from M. C. Dean
The Day That I Played Baseball A humorous song about an Irishman in an unfamiliar situation. Sung by M. C. Dean
Den Lille Ole Danish song inspired by Hans Christian Andersen.
Es Klappert die Mühle am Rauschenden Bach German milling song
*First Minnesota Song (Company G) A broadside about part of Minnesota's most famous military formation.
*[The Jam on] Gerry's Rocks A song of a logging tragedy, from A. C. Hannah
The Glendy Burk A Stephen C. Foster song about a Mississippi river steamer
Halsa Dem Darhemma A much-loved Swedish song about an emigrant's feelings for home.
The Harry Hayward Song About a murder which took place in south Minneapolis in the late nineteenth century
*The House Carpenter An ancient British ballad twice collected in Minnesota
In Good Old Colony Days Originally British, now about Colonial times, collected twice in Minnesota
Jack Haggerty Originally written as a joke, this has become a well-known lumberman's lost love song
*James Bird A song written about the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.
*Jefferson and Liberty A song from Thomas Jefferson's presidential campaigns
Jesse James Another song of a Northfield robber, though this one never mentions Minnesota
Last Winter Was a Hard One From the 1880s, a tale of hard times among Irish immigrants, sung by M. C. Dean
Lincoln and Liberty Minnesota first voted for a President in 1860. Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election. This was one of his campaign songs.
Lost on the Lady Elgin A song of a Great Lakes shipwreck, sung by M. C. Dean
*The Maid of Prairie du Chien Thought to be from 1850 or earlier, this may be a song of how a fur trapper moved west after being rejected by his love in Wisconsin.
Marching Through Georgia The Second and Fourth Minnesota regiments marched to the sea with Sherman in 1864-1865. M. C. Dean sang this Henry Clay Work song about the event.
*Old Granny Wales A song of the Revolutionary War, based on an Irish song. Collected by Bessie Mae Stanchfield from Elma Snyder McDowell.
Oleana Ole Bull was a violinist in the nineteenth century; there is a statue of him in Loring Park in Minneapolis. This is a satiric song about a Norwegian colony, Oleana, he tried to found in Pennsylvania.
O'Shaughanesey A railroad song sung by M. C. Dean
The Pinery Boy Originally a British song about a sailor lost at sea, it came to the United States and was transformed into a song about a logger who died on a river.
Pium Paum A popular Finnish lullaby, collected several times in northern Minnesota
Red Iron Ore A song of the ore business on the Great Lakes.
Skibbereen One Irishman's bitter tale of how he came to the United States.
**Sparkling and Bright A drinking song, by Charles Fenno Hoffman, known to have been sung by Henry Sibley in the 1850s. (This entry contains additional information not in the printed Heritage Songbook.)
*The Swede from North Dakota As far as I know, the only traditional song to mention the Minnesota State Fair
Uncle Sam's Farm Written by the Hutchinson Family (yes, of Hutchinson), and sung by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this tells of the Homestead Act that provided land for many Minnesota families
Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind? A Swedish song of separation.
When This Cruel War Is Over By Charles Carroll Sawyer, with original melody by Henry Tucker. Thought to be the most popular song of the American Civil War, in which Minnesota troops participated so gloriously and tragically. Modern Tune * Original Tune (arr. R. Waltz)

*A La Claire Fontaine	A love song sung by the Voyageurs
*The Banks of the Little Eau Pleine	A lumberman's tragicomedy, from the composer, William N. Allen, or "Shan T. Boy."
*The Banks of the Wabash	A very popular song written by Paul Dresser shortly before 1900 and sung by M. C. Dean
The Bigler's* Crew	A song of Great Lakes sailing, from M. C. Dean (This entry contains additional information not in the printed Heritage Songbook.)
*Billie Johnson of Lundy's Lane	A rare Civil War song sung by M. C. Dean
**Boney	A sailor's chanty about Napoleon Bonaparte. (This entry contains additional information not in the printed Heritage Songbook.)
*Brave Wolfe	A tale of the Siege of Quebec, and how eastern Minnesota came into English hands
*C'est L'aviron	A paddling song of the Voyageurs who explored Minnesota to gather furs
*Cole Younger	A story of the outlaw who failed in the Northfield Bank robbery
*The Colorado Trail	A short song of lost love, from a "hoss wrangler" in Duluth
*Dance, Boatman, Dance	Probably first heard in Minnesota in 1856, when the "showboat" Banjo brought a minstrel act to Saint Paul
*Darling Nelly Gray	A song about the hard times of slaves in the 1850s, from M. C. Dean
The Day That I Played Baseball	A humorous song about an Irishman in an unfamiliar situation. Sung by M. C. Dean
Den Lille Ole	Danish song inspired by Hans Christian Andersen.
Es Klappert die Mühle am Rauschenden Bach	German milling song
*First Minnesota Song (Company G)	A broadside about part of Minnesota's most famous military formation.
*[The Jam on] Gerry's Rocks	A song of a logging tragedy, from A. C. Hannah
The Glendy Burk	A Stephen C. Foster song about a Mississippi river steamer
Halsa Dem Darhemma	A much-loved Swedish song about an emigrant's feelings for home.
The Harry Hayward Song	About a murder which took place in south Minneapolis in the late nineteenth century
*The House Carpenter	An ancient British ballad twice collected in Minnesota
In Good Old Colony Days	Originally British, now about Colonial times, collected twice in Minnesota
Jack Haggerty	Originally written as a joke, this has become a well-known lumberman's lost love song
*James Bird	A song written about the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.
*Jefferson and Liberty	A song from Thomas Jefferson's presidential campaigns
Jesse James	Another song of a Northfield robber, though this one never mentions Minnesota
Last Winter Was a Hard One	From the 1880s, a tale of hard times among Irish immigrants, sung by M. C. Dean
Lincoln and Liberty	Minnesota first voted for a President in 1860. Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election. This was one of his campaign songs.
Lost on the Lady Elgin	A song of a Great Lakes shipwreck, sung by M. C. Dean
*The Maid of Prairie du Chien	Thought to be from 1850 or earlier, this may be a song of how a fur trapper moved west after being rejected by his love in Wisconsin.
Marching Through Georgia	The Second and Fourth Minnesota regiments marched to the sea with Sherman in 1864-1865. M. C. Dean sang this Henry Clay Work song about the event.
*Old Granny Wales	A song of the Revolutionary War, based on an Irish song. Collected by Bessie Mae Stanchfield from Elma Snyder McDowell.
Oleana	Ole Bull was a violinist in the nineteenth century; there is a statue of him in Loring Park in Minneapolis. This is a satiric song about a Norwegian colony, Oleana, he tried to found in Pennsylvania.
O'Shaughanesey	A railroad song sung by M. C. Dean
The Pinery Boy	Originally a British song about a sailor lost at sea, it came to the United States and was transformed into a song about a logger who died on a river.
Pium Paum	A popular Finnish lullaby, collected several times in northern Minnesota
Red Iron Ore	A song of the ore business on the Great Lakes.
Skibbereen	One Irishman's bitter tale of how he came to the United States.
**Sparkling and Bright	A drinking song, by Charles Fenno Hoffman, known to have been sung by Henry Sibley in the 1850s. (This entry contains additional information not in the printed Heritage Songbook.)
*The Swede from North Dakota	As far as I know, the only traditional song to mention the Minnesota State Fair
Uncle Sam's Farm	Written by the Hutchinson Family (yes, of Hutchinson), and sung by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this tells of the Homestead Act that provided land for many Minnesota families
Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind?	A Swedish song of separation.
When This Cruel War Is Over	By Charles Carroll Sawyer, with original melody by Henry Tucker. Thought to be the most popular song of the American Civil War, in which Minnesota troops participated so gloriously and tragically. Modern Tune * Original Tune (arr. R. Waltz)