"Michigan, My Michigan" is a popular anthem in the State of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

, and erroneously believed by many to be Michigan's official state song. The actual state song, "

My Michigan "My Michigan" is the state song of Michigan. History It was written by Giles Kavanagh (lyrics) and H. O'Reilly Clint (music) in 1933. It was published by Clint's own music publishing company at Detroit. It was formally adopted as an official ...

", was formally adopted in 1937 but remains relatively obscure, partially because of the misconception that the official song is "Michigan, My Michigan". A 2003 bill to make the song an official state song failed to pass.

History

Winifred Lee Brent Lyster of Detroit wrote the original 1862 lyrics of "Michigan, My Michigan" to the tune of "

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 ...

" (known in English as "O Christmas Tree"), and which was also the melody of "

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 ...

", a former state song of the state of Maryland. Her husband, Henry, was a physician who rose to be Medical Inspector and Acting Medical Director of

III Corps 3rd Corps, Third Corps, III Corps, or 3rd Army Corps may refer to: France * 3rd Army Corps (France) * III Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * III Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of th ...

in the Union Army. He served from the

First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas

to the

Battle of Appomattox Court House The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought in Appomattox County, Virginia, on the morning of April 9, 1865, was one of the last battles of the American Civil War (1861–1865). It was the final engagement of Confederate General in Chief, Rober ...

. Mrs. Lyster was inspired to write the song after the

Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnsi ...

. Major James W. Long of Grand Rapids wrote new lyrics in 1886 but kept the original tune and original Civil War sentiment. In 1902,

Douglas Malloch Douglas Malloch (May 5, 1877 – July 2, 1938) was an American poet, short-story writer and Associate Editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago. He was known as a "Lumberman's poet" both locally and nationally. He is noted for writi ...

wrote the current lyrics for a convention of the Michigan State Federation of Woman's Clubs in Muskegon. He deemed them more suitable for a peacetime anthem. A new tune was also composed for the song by composer

W. Otto Miessner William Otto Miessner (May 26, 1880 - May 27, 1967) was an American composer and music educator. Most of his life was spent in the midwest, particularly Indiana and Wisconsin. Life and career Born in Huntingburg, Indiana, Miessner was the son of ...

of Detroit.words by Douglas Malloch; music by W. Otto Miessner
sheet music at the Library of Michigan

1862 lyrics

Home of my heart, I sing of thee! Michigan, My Michigan, Thy lake-bound shores I long to see, Michigan, my Michigan. From Saginaw’s tall whispering pines To Lake Superior’s farthest mines, Fair in the light of memory shines Michigan, my Michigan. Thou gav’st thy sons without a sigh, Michigan, my Michigan, And sent thy bravest forth to die, Michigan, my Michigan. Beneath a hostile southern sky They bore thy banner proud and high, Ready to fight but never fly, Michigan, my Michigan. From Yorktown on to Richmond’s wall, Michigan, my Michigan, They bravely fight, as bravely fall, Michigan, my Michigan. To Williamsburgh we point with pride— Our Fifth and Second, side by side, There stemmed and stayed the battle’s tide, Michigan, my Michigan. When worn with watching traitor foes, Michigan, my Michigan, The welcome night brought sweet repose, Michigan, my Michigan. The soldier, weary from the fight, Sleeps sound, nor fears the rebels’ might, For "Michigan’s on guard tonight!" Michigan, my Michigan. Afar on Shiloh’s fatal plain, Michigan, my Michigan, Again behold thy heroes slain, Michigan, my Michigan. "Their strong arms crumble in the dust, And their bright swords have gathered rust; Their memory is our sacred trust," Michigan, my Michigan. And often in the coming years, Michigan, my Michigan, Some widowed mother ‘ll dry her tears, Michigan, my Michigan, And turning with a thrill of pride, Say to the children at her side, At

Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union ...

your father died, For Michigan, our Michigan. With General Grant’s victorious name, Michigan, my Michigan, Thy sons still onward march to fame, Michigan, my Michigan. And foremost in the fight we see, Where e’er the bravest dare to be, The sabres of thy cavalry, Michigan, my Michigan. Dark rolled the Rappahannock’s flood, Michigan, my Michigan, The tide was crimsoned with thy blood, Michigan, my Michigan. Although for us the clay was lost, Still it shall be our broadest boast: At Fredericksburg our Seventh crossed! Michigan, my Michigan. And when the happy time shall come, Michigan, my Michigan, That brings thy war-worn heroes home, Michigan, my Michigan, What welcome from their own proud shore, What honors at their feet we’ll pour, What tears for those who’ll come no more, Michigan, my Michigan. A grateful country claims them now, Michigan, my Michigan, And deathless laurel binds each brow, Michigan, my Michigan; And history the tale will tell, Of how they fought and how they fell, For that dear land they loved so well, Michigan, my Michigan.

1886 lyrics

Land of my love, I sing of thee, Michigan, my Michigan; With lake-bound shore, I'm proud of thee, Michigan, my Michigan. The sweet winds whisper through thy pines, The jewels glitter in thy mines, And glory on thy chaplet shines— Michigan, my Michigan. I've traveled all thy confines o'er, Michigan, my Michigan; From lake to lake, and shore to shore, Michigan, my Michigan. I've seen thy maimed, thy halt, thy blind, I’ve seen the ones bereft of mind, To all of them thou art so kind— Michigan, my Michigan. Thou art so pure, but modest, too, Michigan, my Michigan; Thou art so brave and still so true, Michigan, my Michigan. No promise unfulfilled;—on trust Thy noble sons have bit the dust, Remembered are they. For thou art just— Michigan, my Michigan. The axe resounds 'mid woodland trees, Michigan, my Michigan; The sails of commerce court thy breeze, Michigan, my Michigan. And templed cities rise in sight, And happy eyes catch heaven's light, Our God protects thee through the night, Michigan, my Michigan. Oh! Alma Mater, at thy shrine, Michigan, my Michigan; I worship thee as most divine, Michigan, my Michigan, "Tuebor" "I’ll protect," 'tis true— Oh, fair peninsula! and you— Shine out a gem in starry blue, Michigan, my Michigan, Thy diadem—thy hero sons, Michigan, my Michigan; Thy choicest love—their helpless ones, Michigan, my Michigan. And just as long as song shall ring From those who bring an offering, To thee, my love, this song shall sing— Michigan, my Michigan.

1902 lyrics

A song to you, fair State of mine, Michigan, my Michigan. But greater song than this is thine, Michigan, my Michigan. The whisper of the forest tree, The thunder of the inland sea, Unite in one grand symphony Of Michigan, my Michigan. I sing a State of all the best— Michigan, my Michigan. I sing a State with riches blessed— Michigan, my Michigan. Thy mines unmask a hidden store, But richer thy historic lore, More great the love thy builders bore, Oh, Michigan, my Michigan. How fair the bosom of thy lakes, Michigan, my Michigan. What melody each river makes, Michigan, my Michigan. As to thy lakes, the rivers tend, Thine exiled children to thee send Devotion that shall never end, Oh, Michigan, my Michigan. Rich in the wealth that makes a State, Michigan, my Michigan. Great in the things that make men great, Michigan, my Michigan. Our loyal voices sound thy claim Upon the golden roll of fame; Our loyal hands shall write the name Oh Michigan, my Michigan,Michigan,Michigan ,Michigan,Michigan.

References

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History

1862 lyrics

1886 lyrics

1902 lyrics

References

Further reading