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US State Songs

 

US State Songs

 

List of all of the official state songs with words, their history and adoption information.

 
 

 

North Carolina Symbols

 

North Carolina Greeting

 

North Carolina Symbols

Beverage, Bird, Blue Berry, Carnivorous Plant, Colors, Dog, Flag, Flower, Folk Dance, Freshwater Trout, Fruit, Historical Boat, Insect, International Festival, Language, Mammal, Military Academy, Motto, Northeastern Watermelon Festival, Popular Dance, Precious Stone, Red Berry, Reptile and Emblem, Rock, Salt Water Fish, Seal, Shell, Song, Southeastern Watermelon Festival, Tartan, Toast, Tree, Vegetables, Wildflower

 

 

 

 

North Carolina State Song

"The Old North State"

Written by William Gaston
Composed by Mrs. E. E. Randolph
Adopted in 1927.

 

The song known as "The Old North State" was adopted as the official song of the State of North Carolina by the General Assembly of 1927.

"The Old North State"

Carolina! Carolina! Heaven's blessings attend her!
While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her;
Tho' the scorner may sneer at and witlings defame her,
Still our hearts swell with gladness whenever we name her.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Tho' she envies not others, their merited glory,
Say whose name stands the foremost, in Liberty's story,
Tho' too true to herself e'er to crouch to oppression,
Who can yield to just rule a more loyal submission?

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Plain and artless her sons, but whose doors open faster
At the knock of a stranger, or the tale of disaster.
How like the rudeness of the dear native mountains,
With rich ore in their bosoms and life in their fountains.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

And her daughters, the Queen or the forest resembling
So graceful, so constant, yet the gentlest breath trembling.
And true lightwood at heart, let the match be applied them,
How they kindle and flame! Oh! none know but who've tried them.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Then let all those who love us, love the land that we live in,
As happy a region as on this side of heaven,
Where plenty and peace, love and joy smile before us,
Raise aloud, raise together the heart thrilling chorus.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

 


Origin of Song:

"The Old North State" is frequently and reverently played at Civil War sites where Tar Heels fought. It is proper for men to remove their hats cover their hearts when the song is played. The words were written by William Gaston in 1840 and the music arranged by Mrs. E. E. Randolph. The song known as "The Old North State" was adopted as the official song of the State of North Carolina by the General Assembly of 1927. (Public Laws, 1927, c. 26; G.S. 149-1)

 

 

 

 

State Songs

US State Songs

 

Forty-nine states of the United States (all except New Jersey) have one or more state songs, selected by the state legislature as a symbol of the state.

New Jersey does have an unofficial state song, "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen, but it has not yet been approved by the state legislature.

 

Some states have more than one official state song, and may refer to some of their official songs by other names; for example, Arkansas officially has two state songs, a state anthem, and a state historical song. Also, Virginia does not presently have a state song by that name, but it has given two songs official recognition under other names. Arizona has a song that was written specifically as a state anthem in 1915, as well as the 1981 country hit Arizona, which it adopted as an alternate.

 

 

 

 

 
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