"I Love You, California" is the official song of the U.S. state of California. It has been the state song in 1951 and was reconfirmed by law to be de jure in 1987. It was written by Francis Beatty Silverwood and composed by Abraham Franklin Frankenstein in 1913; it was first published in the same year.[1][2][3][4]
Lyrics[]
The lyrics consists of a four stanza poem of four lines, each with a chorus of seven lines.[5][6]
I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all.
I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore.
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.
Chorus:
When the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o'er the valleys bloom,
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Every breeze bearing rich perfume.
It is here nature gives of her rarest. It is Home Sweet Home to me,
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.
I love your red-wood forests – love your fields of yellow grain.
I love your summer breezes and I love your winter rain.
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine.
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.
Chorus
I love your old gray Missions – love your vineyards stretching far.
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar.
I love your purple sun-sets, love your skies of azure blue.
I love you, California; I just can't help loving you.
Chorus
I love you, Catalina, you are very dear to me.
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite.
I love you, Land of Sunshine, half your beauties are untold.
I loved you in my childhood, and I'll love you when I'm old.
Chorus
References[]
- ↑ Mining for Sonic Gold in the Central Library: Exhibit and Book Examine Los Angeles History Through Old Sheet Music (2013-07-01). Los Angeles Downtown News. Vaillancourt, Ryan.
- ↑ The story behind the Golden State's official song, 'I Love You California' (2013-07-12). Southern California Public Radio.
- ↑ Frankenstein, Abraham Frankum. de Brie, Tim (July 2010).
- ↑ The Jews of Los Angeles: Urban Pioneers. Clar, Reva (November 2002). Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles.
- ↑ I love You California. 50states.com.
- ↑ California State Song: I Love You, California