Florida State Song

Florida, My Florida Adopted: May 12, 1913 (superceded 1935)

Florida's first state song: sunkissed land and phosphate mines

Reverend Chastain Valentine Waugh
Courtesy: Florida Baptist Historical Society

In 1893, the Reverend Chastain V. Waugh took up a position at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College in Lake City, Florida. Skilled in Greek, Hebrew, Latin, German, French, and Spanish, he served as professor of ancient and modern languages.

In 1906 the Florida Agriculture and Mechanical College became the University of Florida and Rev. Waugh wrote "Florida, My Florida."

"Florida, My Florida" 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," important to the wealth and economic health of citizens of Florida.

It was sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum (Oh, Christmas Tree) and had become a mainstay in many public school activities by the time the Florida Legislature determined to honor the song with the title of "official."

On May 12, 1913, Governor Park Monroe Trammell signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 24, providing Florida with its first state song.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24.

Proposing that the song "Florida, My Florida," be declared by the Legislature of the State of Florida to be the State song.

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida, the Senate Concurring:

THAT, WHEREAS, In view of the fact that many of the Public Schools of the State are now singing, as a part of their daily exercise, the song, "Florida, my Florida," a song written in 1894 by Rev. Dr. C. V. Waugh, for many years an honored Professor of Languages in the old Florida Agricultural College at Lake City, and

WHEREAS, The said song has both a metrical and patriotic merit of the kind calculated to inspire love for home and native state, NOW, THEREFORE
Be It Resolved,

That this song, "Florida, my Florida," be and the same is hereby declared by the Legislature of the State of Florida to be the "State Song," to be sung to the tune of "Maryland, my Maryland," and that it is recommended for use in the daily exercises of the public schools of the State of Florida, as well as at all public gatherings where singing forms a part of the program.

The following is the song:

FLORIDA, MY FLORIDA
(STATE PATRIOTIC SONG FOR SCHOOLS, C. V. WAUGH.)
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; vHere 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.

"Florida, My Florida" settled into its role as the official State Song and served the state honorably for 22 years.

Waugh died in 1935 and with him went his song. Winds of change blew through the Florida State Legislature.

Florida's second state song, "S'wanee River (Old Folks at Home)" (superceded 2008))
Florida's third state song, "Old Folks at Home"
Florida's state anthem, Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)
All Florida state songs

Sources...

Kushner, David Z. "Reflections on the State Songs of Florida." Bar-Ilan University. Bar-Ilan University, 28 June 2008. Web. 3 May 2015.

GENERAL ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF FLORIDA At Its Fourteenth Regular Session. Vol. 1. Tallahassee: T. J. Appleyard, State Printer, 1913. 517-518. Print.

Shankle, George Earlie. State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols. Irvine, Calif.: Reprint Services Corp, Revised edition, 1971.

Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.

Additional Information

Rev. C. V. Waugh: Sketch from The Alachua County Library District's Heritage Collection.

Reflections on the State Songs of Florida: Comprehansive article by David Z. Kushner.

State songs: Complete list of official state songs from NETSTATE.COM

More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official Florida state symbols from NETSTATE.COM.

State Songs
of America
Michael J. Bristow

State Songs of America, by Michael J. Bristow. 185 pages. Publisher: Greenwood (February 28, 2000)

State Songs of America provides the music and lyrics for the official songs adopted by the state governments. Arranged alphabetically by state, each song has a single vocal line over a piano accompaniment, with one verse only under the vocal line and remaining verses appearing separately. Each entry includes the date the song was adopted, the name of the composer, and in some instances, a brief history of the song. The book will be a useful reference for those wanting to perform a state song or to find the official songs of other states. Keep in mind that this book was published in 2000 and does not contain later adoptions.

State Songs:
Anthems and Their Origins
John Hladczuk
Sharon Schneider Hladczuk

State Songs: Anthems and Their Origins, by John Hladczuk, Sharon Schneider Hladczuk. 240 pages. Publisher: Scarecrow Press (September 26, 2000)

State Songs: Anthems and Their Origins is a tremendous resource, from which readers will gain insight into the heritage of American statehood. Histories of these songs, biographical information about the composers and lyricists, and background on each song's entrance into status as "official" make this source the most comprehensive in existence. The entries include sheet music, allowing readers to reproduce for themselves the tunes that have proved so important in the history of the Union. Music teachers, history teachers, librarians, and anyone else interested in learning more about the United States will not want to be without State Songs. Organized alphabetically by state. Keep in mind that this book was published in 2000 and does not contain later adoptions.