"Florida, My Florida" was the state song of the state of Florida from 1913 to 1935. It was written by the Reverend Chastain V. Waugh, professor of ancient and modern languages at the University of Florida, in 1894. It uses the melody of "O Tannenbaum".
History[]
Florida, which became a state in 1845, did not have a state song until 1913. On May 12, 1913, Florida Governor Park Trammell signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 24, which designated "Florida, My Florida" as the state song. The song’s tune, "O Tannenbaum", was also used for the official state songs of Maryland and Iowa, and for the unofficial state song of Michigan. In 1935, the Florida Legislature changed the state song to "Swannee River" [sic]. In 2008, the Legislature designated that a revised version of the lyrics be the official version of the state song and it designated "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" as the state anthem.
Lyrics[]
Land of my birth, bright sunkissed land,
Florida, my Florida,
Laved by the Gulf and Ocean grand,
Florida, my Florida,
Of all the States in East or West,
Unto my heart thou art the best; Here may I live, here may I rest,
Florida, my Florida.
In country, town or hills and dells,
Florida, my Florida,
The rhythmic chimes of they school bells
Florida my Florida
Will call thy children day by day
To learn to walk the patriot's way,
Firmly to stand for thee for aye,
Florida, my Florida.
Thy golden fruit the world outshines
Florida, my Floriday,
They gardens and thy phosphate mines,
Florida, my Florida,
Yield their rich store of good supply,
To still the voice of hunger's cry,—
For thee we'll live, for thee we'll die,
Florida, my Florida.
Th' oppressors rod can't rest on thee,
Florida, my Florida,
Thy sons and daughters free must be,
Florida, my Florida.
From North and South, from East and West,
From freezing blasts they come for rest,
And find in thee their earnest quest,
Florida, my Florida.
When ills betide and woes o'ertake,
Florida, my Florida,
Thy sons and daughters quick will make,—
Florida, my Florida.
The sacrifice of loves and life
To save from woe, from ills and strife,
To fell thy foes in danger rife,
Florida, my Florida.[1]