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New Hamsphire State Song

Old New Hampshire

words by Dr. John F. Holmes and music by Maurice Hoffmann

    With a skill that knows no measure,
    From the golden store of Fate
    God, in His great love and wisdom,
    Made the rugged Granite State;
    Made the lakes, the fields, the forests;
    Made the Rivers and the rills;
    Made the bubbling, crystal fountains
    Of New Hampshire's Granite Hills

   Refrain:
    Old New Hampshire, Old New Hampshire
    Old New Hampshire Grand and Great
    We will sing of Old New Hampshire,
    Of the dear old Granite State 

    Builded he New Hampshire glorious
    From the borders to the sea;
    And with matchless charm and splendor
    Blessed her for eternity.
    Hers, the majesty of mountain;
    Hers, the grandeur of the lake;
    Hers, the truth as from the hillside
    Whence her crystal waters break

   Refrain:

Adoption of the State Song

The song, "Old New Hampshire", was written in 1926. The music was composed by Maurice Hoffman, Jr., the organist of the Franklin Street Congregational Church in Manchester. Dr. John F. Holmes provided the words to the song.

Twice, "Old New Hampshire was rebuffed by the New Hampshire Legislature. In 1941, the song was flatly turned down. In 1943, the Legislature killed a bill proposed by Representative Samuel P. Philbrook of Belmont, for a $1,500 public contest to pick a state song. The contest offered a $500 prize for the music and a $300 prize for the words. Additionally, the bill proposed $700 for a team of judges and for related expenses.

Evidently, by 1949, the Legislature was in a more spirited mood and approved "Old New Hampshire", words by John Franklin Holmes (1878-1955) and music by Maruice Hoffman (1897-1982), to be the official song of the state. This choice was codified by the Legislature on November 29, 1977.

New Hamsphire Revised Statutes

The following information is excerpted from the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 3, Section 7.

TITLE I. THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 3. STATE EMBLEMS, FLAG, ETC.
SECTION 7

3:7 State Songs. – The following songs are hereby declared to be the state songs of New Hampshire:

    I. "Old New Hampshire" with words by Dr. John F. Holmes and music by Maurice Hoffmann.
   II. "New Hampshire, my New Hampshire" with words by Julius Richelson and music by Walter P. Smith.
  III. "New Hampshire Hills" with words by Paul Scott Mowrer and music by Tom Powers.
   IV. "Autumn in New Hampshire" with words and music by Leo Austin.
    V. "New Hampshire's Granite State" with words and music by Anne B. Currier.
   VI. "Oh, New Hampshire (you're my home)" with words and music by Brownie McIntosh.
  VII. "The Old Man of the Mountain" with words and music by Paul Belanger.
 VIII. "The New Hampshire State March" with words and music by Rene Richards.
   IX. "New Hampshire Naturally" with words and music by Rick Shaw and Ron Shaw.

 Source. 1949, 38:1. 1977, 224:1. 1983, 190:1, eff. Aug. 14, 1983.

Source: New Hamsphire General Court, (http://gencourt.state.nh.us), December 3, 2004
Source: New Hampshire State Almanac, (http://www.nh.gov/nhinfo/), December 3, 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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