The Blue Juniata

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title=The Blue Juniata
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caption=Cover of sheet music, 1844.
writer=Marion Dix Sullivan
composer=
lyricist=
published=
written=1844
language=English
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original_artist=
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"The Blue Juniata" is a popular song writtn by Marion Dix Sullivan in 1844. It was one of the most popular parlor songs of the Nineteenth Century, and the first commercially successful song written by an American woman. [Pendle, "Women & Music", p. 210: "Marion Dix Sullivan (fl. 1840-1850) was the first American woman to write what today would be called a hit song, her ballad "The Blue Juniata" (1844)."]

In "The Blue Juniata", bright Alfarata, the Indian girl, sings the praises of her warrior while she travels along the Juniata River.

Lyrics

"The Blue Juniata" as first published: [Sullivan, "The Blue Juniata" (Sheet music).] :"Wild roved an Indian girl,":"Bright Alfarata,":"Where sweep the waters":"Of the blue Juniata!":"Swift as an antelope":"Through the forest going,":"Loose were her jetty locks,":"In many tresses flowing."

:"Gay was the mountain song":"Of bright Alfarata,":"Where sweep the waters":"Of the blue Juniata.":"Strong and true my arrows are,":"In my painted quiver,":"Swift goes my light canoe":"Adown the rapid river."

:"Bold is my warrior good,":"The love of Alfarata,":"Proud waves his snowy plume":"Along the Juniata.":"Soft and low he speaks to me,":"And then, his war-cry sounding,":"Rings his voice in thunder loud,":"From height to height resounding."

:"So sang the Indian girl,":"Bright Alfarata,":"Where sweep the waters":"Of the blue Juniata.":"Fleeting years have borne away":"The voice of Alfarata;":"Still sweeps the river on—":"Blue Juniata!"

References

Bibliography

*Pendle, Karin. "Women & Music: A History". Bloomington, Indiana: Indian University Press (2001).
*Sullivan, Marion Dix. "The Blue Juniata" (Sheet music). Boston: Oliver Ditson (1844).