Hiawatha (A Summer Idyl)

"Hiawatha"
(A Summer Idyl)
Sheet music cover (1902)[1]
Song
Written	1901
Composer	Neil Moret
Language	English

Cover of vocal version (1903).

"Hiawatha (A Summer Idyl)" is a popular song written by Neil Moret (Charles N. Daniels) in 1901. James J. O'Dea (1870–1914) added lyrics in 1903 and the music was re-subtitled "(His Song to Minnehaha)".

"Hiawatha" was extremely popular when released, and sold half a million copies.^[2][3] It has been recorded numerous times and started a decade long fad for "Indian" songs.^[4]

"Hiawatha" was named for Hiawatha, Kansas, not for Longfellow's poem.^[5]

Lyrics

The lyrics as written by O'Dea:^[6]

Oh the moon is all agleam on the stream

Where i dream here of you my pretty Indian maid.

While the rustling leaves are singing high above us overhead

In the glory of the bright summer night

In light of the shadows of the forest glade

I am waiting here to kiss your lips so red.

There's a flood of melodies on the breeze

From the trees and of you they breathe so tenderly

While the wodlands all around are resounding your name,

Oh my all in life is you only you

Fond and true and your own forevermore I'll be.

Hear them the song I sing with lips aflame

Refrain:

I am your own your Hiawatha brave— my heart is yours you know

Dear one I love you so

Oh Minnehaha gentle maid decide— decide and you'll be,

My Indian bride.

In the tresses of your hair, lies a snare and its there

Where my heart a willing captive is.

Oh my woodland queen I pray you'll hold it ever in your care

In my little birch canoe love with you

Just we two down the stream of life in wedded bliss

I would drift sweetheart with you my lot to share.

When the birds upon the wing in the spring

Gaily sing of the green and golden summer time

When the snows of early winter robe the wodlands in white,

Then your Hiawatha free I will be

And to thee ev'ry though of mine will o'er incline.

Heed then the vows I pledge to thee this night.

(Refrain)

References

1. Moret, "Hiawatha (A Summer Idyl)"
2. Jasen, Tin Pan Alley, p. 102: "In 1901, Daniels published his Indian song, 'Hiawatha,' which became a success after Daniels prevailed upon Sousa to perform and record it (Victor 2443). The following year, when Jerome Remick purchased Whitney Warner of Detroit, he paid Daniels $10,000 for his firm so that Remick could have 'Hiawatha.' It was the highest sum yet paid for a song."
3. Sanjek, American Popular Music and Its Business, p. 414. "500,000".
4. Jasen, Tin Pan Alley, p. 102: "The following year, James J. O'Dea (1870–1914) added words to 'Hiawatha,' and sales zoomed again when it became a song. Thus started the trend of Indian songs, which were extremely popular during the first decade of the twentieth century."
5. Parlor Songs 1800-1920. "The song was originally written around 1900 by Moret as an instrumental work as a tribute to a town in Kansas (Hiawatha, Kansas) where his sweetheart lived."
6. O'Dea, "Hiawatha (His Song to Minnehaha)".

Bibliography

• Jasen, David A. Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song. New York: Routledge (2003).
• Moret, Neil (m.). "Hiawatha (A Summer Idyl)" (Sheet music). Detroit: Whitney-Warner Pub. Co. (1902).
• O'Dea, James J. (w.) (1870–1914); Moret, Neil (m.). "Hiawatha (His Song to Minnehaha)" (Sheet music). Detroit: Whitney-Warner Pub. Co. (1903).
• Sanjek, Russell. American Popular Music and Its Business: The First four Hundred Years, Vol. II. New York: Oxford University Press (1988).
• Parlor Songs 1800-1920 (Aug 2000). ">Parlor Songs Association.

External links

• "Hiawatha", Columbia Orchestra (Columbia Phonograph Co. 32092, (c. 1903)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
• "Hiawatha", Edison Grand Concert Band (Edison Gold Moulded 8347, (c. 1906)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.