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Chords and Lyrics for On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away

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Words and Music by Paul Dresser

VERSE 1

          G       C                  G 
'Round my Indiana homestead wave the cornfields,

A7     G                 A         D7        G 
In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool,

                         C                 G 
Oftentimes my thoughts revert to scenes of childhood,

A7      G                 A7       D7       G 
Where I first received my lessons, nature's school,

    B7                                Em 
But one thing there is missing in the picture,

    A7                            D7 
Without her face it seems so incomplete,

  G              C             G 
I long to see my mother in the doorway,

A7     G                  A       D7     G 
As she stood there years ago, her boy to greet,

                           B7              Em C 
Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash,

E7       A                                         D7 
From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay,

            G             B7                Em   C 
Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming,

D7     G            A       D7  G 
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.

VERSE 2

     G                       C                 G 
Many years have passed since I strolled by the river,

A7     G                    A    D7    G 
Arm in arm, with sweetheart Mary by my side,

                        C               G 
It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her,

A7     G                 A      D7    G 
It was there I begged of her to be my bride,

     B7                                             Em 
Long years have passed since I strolled through the churchyard,

      A7                           D7 
She's sleeping there my angel Mary dear,

  G                 C                G 
I loved her but she thought I didn't mean it,

A7        G              A        D7   G 
Still I'd give my future were she only here.

                           B7              Em C 
Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash,

E7       A                                         D7 
From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay,

            G             B7                Em   C 
Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming,

D7     G            A       D7  G 
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.

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Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo A Major A7 B7 C Major D7 E7 E Minor G Major
Guitar A Major A7 B7 C Major D7 E7 E Minor G Major
Mandolin A Major A7 B7 C Major D7 E7 E Minor G Major
Piano A Major A7 B7 C Major D7 E7 E Minor G Major
Ukulele A Major A7 B7 C Major D7 E7 E Minor G Major

Sheet Music for On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away

Chords on this page may be simplified from the original version. View the sheet music for this title to see the original chords. The following sheet music is available for this title: