West Virginia State Song

This Is My West Virginia Adopted: February 28, 1963

This Is My West Virginia

words and music by Iris Bell

This is my West Virginia, the home of all my family,
And the faces of her people ever glow with loyalty;
The honest sweat born of honest toil is the only way they know
Here in my West Virginia, the home that I love so.

This is my West Virginia, her beauty makes my spirit whole,
In the times of dread and anguish it calms my fevered soul;
I lift mine eyes unto these hills and they give me power to go on
Here in my West Virginia, where I was born.

This is my West Virginia, and free her sons will always be
We will stand behind our principles as in 1863
Her pride will live and her strength will grow
Til her mountains turn to dust;
This is my West Virginia the land that I trust.

This is my West Virginia, these hills that guard my liberty
And her flag proclaims the legend "Mountaineers are always free."
Where-e'er I go she will call to me through the world in which I roam
This is my West Virginia, my land, my home.

Adoption of an official state song

West Virginia State Song: This Is My West Virginia

"West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home" by Julian G. Hearne, Jr. was designated as the first official state song by Senate Concurrent Resolution No.11 on March 3, 1947.

On February 3, 1961, and without knowledge of the fact that a state song had already been designated, "The West Virginia Hills" by Ellen King and H. E. Engle was adopted as the official state song by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5.

Realizing the error and wanting to add the song "This is My West Virginia" by Iris Bell, on February 28, 1963 the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 19 designating all three the official state songs of West Virginia.

Sources...

"This Is My West Virginia." West Virginia Division of Culture and Historyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. State of West Virginia, 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.

"Official State Symbols of West Virginia." West Virginia Legislature. State of West Virginia, 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.

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.

West Virginia State Song

This Is My West Virginia

Adoption of an official state song

Sources...

Additional Information