Down by the Embarras

SM Don-1

DOWN BY THE EMBARRAS (pronounced AHM'BRAH)

To Ralph G. Newman

Adapted to the Illinois Scene From A Southwestern Folk Song "Brazos River" by Win Stracke

Of the original song Vance Randolph Says; "sung by Mrs. Irene Carlisle, Fayatteville, MO. Mrs Carlisle learned it from a hired hand who had lived in Texas"

1. I'VE CROSSED THE DES PLAINES AND I'VE FORDED THE VER - MIL- ION I'VE SWUM THE LITTLE

WABASH I'VE FOLLOWED THE AP - PLE THE CAL - U- MET'S MUDDY THE ROCK RIVER

CLEAR BUT DOWN BY THE EMBARRAS I COURTED MY DEAR

{Chorus}

LI - LA - LI LEE LEE LEE GIVE ME YOUR HAND

LI - LA - LI LEE LEE LEE GIVE ME YOUR HAND

LI - LA - LI LEE LEE LEE GIVE ME YOUR HAND

THERE'S MANY A RIV - ER THAT WATERS THE LAND

2. THE BROAD ILLINOIS IT RUNS GLOSSY AND GLIDING

THE COOKED KASKASKIA RUNS WEAVING AND WINDING

OLD ABE LINCOLNS SANGAMON, IT COURSES THE PLAIN

AND I NEVER WILL WALK BY THE EMBARRAS AGAIN.

3. SHE HUGGED ME SHE KISSED ME SHE CALLED ME HER DANDY

THE MACKINAW'S ROCKY, THE KANKAKEE SANDY

SHE KISSED ME, SHE HUGGED ME, SHE CALLED ME HER OWN

BUT DOWN BY THE EMBARRAS SHE LEFT ME ALONE

4. THE GIRLS OF THE FOX, O THEY'RE PLUMP AND THEY'RE PRETTY

THE SPOON AND MACAUPIN HAVE MANY A BEAUTY

THE CHICAGO FLOWS SLOWLY PAST GIRLS BY THE SCORE

SO DOWN BY THE EMBARRAS I'LL WANDER NO MORE.

PRONUNCIATIONS: AUTHORITY, MR. PAUL ANGLE

Director, Chicago Historian Society

EMBARRAS = AMBRA

DES PLAINES = DES - PLANZ

MACAUPIN = MA - KOO - PIN

@ COPYRIGHT 1963 BY WIN STRACKE