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The South Dakota State Song

Hail, South Dakota

words and music by Deecourt Hammitt

    Hail! South Dakota,
    A great state of the land,
    Health, wealth and beauty,
    That's what makes her grand;
    She has her Black Hills,
    And mines with gold so rare,
    And with her scen'ry,
    No state can compare.

    Come where the sun shines,
    And where life's worth your while,
    You won't be here long,
    'Till you'll wear a smile;
    No state's so healthy,
    And no folk quite so true,
    To South Dakota.
    We all welcome you.

    Hail! South Dakota,
    The state we love the best, 
    Land of our fathers,
    Builders of the west;
    Home of the Badlands,
    And Rushmore's ageless shrine,
    Black Hills and prairies, (Hills, farms and prairies,)
    Farmland and sunshine. (Blessed with bright Sunshine.)

Adoption of the State Song

A March song, "Hail, South Dakota", with words and music by Deecourt Hammitt was adopted as the official state song of South Dakota on March 5, 1943. The music instructs a performer to "Play in a Snappy March Time."

South Dakota Codified Laws

The following information is excerpted from the South Dakota Codified Laws, Title 1, Chapter 6, Section 7. The words are included within the statute.

TITLE 1. STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 1-6. STATE EMBLEMS
SECTION 7. STATE SONG

1-6-7. State song. The song "Hail! South Dakota" having words and music written by Deecort Hammitt is adopted and established as the official state song of South Dakota. A copy of such composition is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State and the words of which are as follows:

    Hail! South Dakota, the best state in the land,
    Health, wealth and beauty, that's what makes her grand;
    She has her Black Hills, and mines with gold so rare,
    And with her scen'ry, no state can compare.
    Come where the sun shines, and where life's worth your while,
    You won't be here long, 'til you'll wear a smile;
    No state's so healthy, and no folk quite so true,
    To South Dakota. We all welcome you.
    Hail! South Dakota, the state we love the best, 
    Land of our fathers, builders of the west;
    Home of the Badlands, and Rushmore's ageless shrine,
    Black Hills and prairies, farmland and sunshine.
    (Hills, farms and prairies, blessed with bright sunshine).

    Source: SL 1943, ch 268; SDC Supp 1960, § 55.0111.

Source: South Dakota State Web Site, (http://www.state.sd.us), December 5, 2004
Source: South Dakota Legislature, (http://legis.state.sd.us/index.cfm), Decemboer 5, 2004
Source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Copyright 2002
Source: State Songs America, Edited by M.J. Bristow, Copyright 2000

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