"Texas, Our Texas" is the

regional anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to shor ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, adopted in the late 1920s as the official state song.

History

It was written in 1924 by William J. Marsh, who was born in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and emigrated to Texas as a young man, and Gladys Yoakum Wright, a native of

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. Accord ...

, and selected as the official state song by a concurrent resolution of the

Texas Legislature The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful ar ...

in 1929 following a statewide competition. Older songs, such as " The Yellow Rose of Texas" and "

Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

", were also considered but ultimately it was decided a new song should be composed. Although the song has been sung since the 41st legislature in 1929, it was officially adopted by the 73rd legislature as the state song in 1993. The song is usually played and sung just before the

national anthem A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and Europea ...

, with a display of the flag. In the absence of the flag (when the song is sung), those present are expected to face toward the music and act just as they would if the flag had been present. The first word of the third line was originally ''largest'', but when

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became the largest U.S. state when it was admitted to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

in 1959, the word was replaced with ''boldest''. This song was sung in group by elementary students in Texas at the beginning of their school classes during the 1950s. As late as the 1980s, this song was still sung before classes in some schools, along with the pledge to the U.S. and Texan flags.

Lyrics

, Our Texas! All hail the mighty State! Texas, Our Texas! So wonderful, so great! Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest. God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long. Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn single star, Sends out its radiance to nations near and far, Emblem of Freedom! It sets our hearts aglow, With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo. God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long. Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free Shine forth in splendor your star of destiny Mother of heroes, we come your children true. Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you. God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

References

External links

* {{National anthems of North America Texas culture Songs about Texas United States state songs Anthems of non-sovereign states