Publisher Melody Shop, tr. to Forster Music Publisher, Inc., Chicago, Ill., renewed 1945Irene Ewing
Notes The enduring popularity of this song can be seen in the variety of covers beginning with the 1918 Melody Shop version by Irene Ewing with an inset photo of Monte Austin, the 1918 Forster edition with an elephant and skyline in silhouette, the “Rubinoff and his Chase and Sanborn Orchestra” from 1931 and finally a piano transcription by Frankie Carle from 1945. “Hindustan” is one of a series of songs written about the further Middle East, the countries of South and Central Asia, which were seen as part of the “Orient” “East of Suez” to use Kipling’s term. The themes of camels, deserts, caravans and (always) the alluring women are consistent throughout this genre, never mind the actual circumstances in these countries.
Lyrics Camel trappings jingle,
Harp-strings sweetly tingle,
With a sweet voice mingle,
Underneath the stars,
Singing, memories are bringing,
Temple bells are ringing,
Calling me afar.
CHORUS
Hindustan, where we stopped to rest our tired caravan,
Hindustan, where the painted peacock proudly spread his fan,
Hindustan, where the purple sunbird flashed across the sand,
Hindustan, where I met her and the world began.
Shades of night are falling,
Nightingales are calling,
Ev’ry heart enthralling,
Underneath the stars,
Sighing, like the night wind dying,
Soft my heart is crying,
For my love afar.
