El-A-Noy

WAY DOWN UPON THE WABASH
SUCH A LAND WAS NEVER KNOWN
IF ADAM HAD CROSSED OVER IT
THIS LAND HE’S SURELY OWN
HE’D SAY, THIS WAS THE GARDEN
HE LIVED IN WHEN HE WAS A BOY
AND HE’D STRAIGHT WAY PRONOUNCE IT EDEN
IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

SO MOVE YOUR FAMILY WESTWARD
BRING ALL YOUR GIRLS AND BOYS
AND CROSS THE SHAWNEE FERRY
TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

SHE’ BOUNDED BY THE WABASH
MISSISSIPPI AND THE LAKES
THERE’S MILKSICK IN HER ROLLING HILLS
AND IN HER SWAMPS THERE’S SNAKES
BUT THESE ARE SLIGHT DIVERSIONS
THAT TAKE NOT FROM ALL OF THE JOYS
OF LIVING IN THIS WONDERLAND
CALLED THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

SO MOVE YOUR FAMILY WEST WARD
GOOD HEALTH YOU WILL ENJOY
AND RISE TO WEALTH AND HONOR
IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

IT WAS HERE THAT THE QUEEN OF SHEBA CAME
WITH SOLOMON OF OLD
WITH WAGON LOADS OF SPICES
POMEGRANATES AND FINE GOLD
AND WHEN SHE SAW THIS LOVELY LAND
HER HEART WAS FILLED WITH SUCH JOY
STRAIGHT WAY SAID SHE I’D LIKE TO BE
THE QUEEN OF ILLINOIS