"Illinois" Official State Song

"Illinois" Official State Song
State song: Illinois

Official state song by Charles H. Chamberlin, 1925
Music by Archibald Johnston
New verses by Win Stracke, in celebration of the Illinois Sesquicentennial

(VERSE 1)
By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
O'er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an echo on the breeze,
Rustling through the leafy trees,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois.

(VERSE 2)
From a wilderness of prairies, Illinois, Illinois,
Straight thy way and never varies, Illinois, Illinois,
Till upon the inland sea,
Stands thy great commercial tree,
Turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois,
Turning all the world to thee, Illinois.

(ORIGINAL VERSE 3)
When you heard your country calling, Illinois, Illinois,
Where the shot and shell were falling, Illinois, Illinois,
When the Southern host withdrew,
Pitting Gray against the Blue,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois, Illinois,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois.

(ORIGINAL VERSE 4)
Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Illinois,
Can be writ the nation's glory, Illinois, Illinois,
On the record of thy years,
Abraham Lincoln's name appears,
Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois, Illinois,
Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois.

(NEW VERSE 3)
Eighteen eighteen saw your founding, Illinois, Illinois,
And your progress is unbounding, Illinois, Illinois,
Pioneers once cleared the land
Where great industries now stand,
World renown you do command, Illinois, Illinois,
World renown you do command, Illinois.

(NEW VERSE 4)
Let us pledge in final chorus, Illinois, Illinois,
That in struggles still before us, Illinois, Illinois,
To our heroes we'll be true
As their vision we pursue,
In a biding love for you, Illinois, Illinois,
In a biding love for you, Illinois.

Share by: