BY THE WATERS OF MINNETONKA - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“by the waters of minnetonka,” sometimes subtitled “an Indian love song,” was composed in 1914 by Thurlow Lieurance with lyrics by J. M. Cavanass. The first notable recording was by Reinald Werrenrath, whose early-1920s rendition brought the song national attention.

The song later became a favorite of dance bands and jazz performers, including a well-known 1930s version by Tommy Dorsey. The lyrics evoke a romantic scene set against a stylized Native American backdrop, while the melody features sweeping intervals and a steady, hymn-like pulse that reflect the composer’s interest in blending traditional themes with popular-song structure.