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US State Songs
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List of all of the official state songs with words, their history and
adoption information.
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Wyoming Symbols
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Wyoming State Song
"Wyoming"
Written by C.E. Winter
Composed by G.E. Knapp
Adopted on February 15, 1955
"Wyoming" was adopted on February 15, 1955.
"Wyoming"
In the far and mighty West,
Where the crimson sun seeks rest,
There's a growing splendid State that lies above,
On the breast of this great land;
Where the massive Rockies stand,
There's Wyoming young and strong, the State I love!
Chorus
Wyoming, Wyoming! Land of the sunlight clear!
Wyoming, Wyoming! Land that we hold so dear!
Wyoming, Wyoming! Precious art thou and thine!
Wyoming, Wyoming! Beloved State of mine!
In the flowers wild and sweet,
Colors rare and perfumes meet;
There's the columbine so pure, the daisy too,
Wild the rose and red it springs,
White the button and its rings,
Thou art loyal for they're red and white and blue.
Where thy peaks with crowned head.
Rising till the sky they wed,
Sit like snow queens ruling wood and stream and plain;
'Neath thy granite bases deep,
'Neath thy bosom's broadened sweep,
Lie the riches that have gained and brought thee fame.
Other treasures thou dost hold,
Men and women thou dost mould;
True and earnest are the lives that thou dost raise,
Strengthen thy children though dost teach,
Nature's truth thou givest to each,
Free and noble are thy workings and thy ways.
In the nation's banner free
There's one star that has for me
A radiance pure and splendor like the sun;
Mine it is, Wyoming's star,
Home it leads me near or far;
O Wyoming! All my hear and love you've won!
Origin of Song:
Judge Charles E. Winter of Encampment composed a poem titled "Wyoming" during the summer of 1903. Earl Clemens, editor of the Grand Encampment Herald, wrote the first score for the song. This version of the song was introduced to the Wyoming Industrial Convention in Sheridan and won recognition as the "state song."
Professor George Edwin Knapp, a director of the music department at the University of Wyoming, found copies of the poem "Wyoming," and in his spare time, composed a melody for the words. This version of the song was introduced at a Wyoming State Teachers' meeting, and the musical arrangement was published in the State Course of Study.
The Knapp version of the song was officially designated as the state song by the 33rd Wyoming Legislature in 1955. It is Wyoming Statute 8-3-108.
The cassette recording of the song held at the State Library has vocal and piano by John Coe, 1999. WyDocs Media CM 7.2:12 (cassette), Oversize ML 3795.W8 W784, (sheet music).
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State Songs
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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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