"Florida, My Florida" was the state song of the state of

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

from 1913 to 1935. It was written by the Reverend Chastain V. Waugh, professor of ancient and modern languages at the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

, in 1894. (The web page states that the song was written in 1906 but the Florida House Resolution adopting it as the state song states that it was written in 1894.)

Background

In 1893, the Reverend Chastain V. Waugh took a position at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College in Lake City, Florida (which became the

in 1906), as professor of ancient and modern languages. In 1894, Waugh wrote "Florida, My Florida". The song extolled the virtues of the state from "sunkissed land," the "Gulf and Ocean grand," the "golden fruit,' and the "gardens" to the state's "phosphate mines," which were important to the wealth and economic health of citizens of Florida. It was sung to the tune of the German Christmas song "

O Tannenbaum "" (; "O fir tree", English: O Christmas Tree) is a German Christmas song. Based on a traditional folk song which was unrelated to Christmas, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree. History The modern lyrics were written in 1824 ...

" (Oh, Christmas Tree) and became a mainstay in many public school activities. Florida, which became a state in 1845, did not have a state song until 1913. On May 12, 1913, Florida Governor

Park Trammell Park Monroe Trammell (April 9, 1876 – May 8, 1936), was an American attorney and politician from the state of Florida. Trammell represented Florida in the United States Senate from 1917 until his death in 1936. As chair of the Senate Naval Aff ...

signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 24, which designated "Florida, My Florida" as the state song (and included its lyrics). The song’s tune, O Tannenbaum, was also used for the official state songs of Maryland ("

Maryland, My Maryland "Maryland, My Maryland" was the state song of the U.S. state of Maryland from 1939 until 2021. The song is set to the melody of "Lauriger Horatius" — the same tune "O Tannenbaum" was taken from. The lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by ...

") and Iowa (" The Song of Iowa"), and for the unofficial state song of Michigan ("

Michigan, My Michigan "Michigan, My Michigan" is a popular anthem in the State of Michigan, and erroneously believed by many to be Michigan's official state song. The actual state song, " My Michigan", was formally adopted in 1937 but remains relatively obscure, partiall ...

"). In 1935, the Florida Legislature changed the state song to " Swannee River" . 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.

References

{{authority control Symbols of Florida

1894 songs Music of Florida Songs about Florida 1913 establishments in Florida