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A Tennessee State Song

My Homeland, Tennessee

words by Nell Grayson Taylor and music by Roy Lamont Smith

    O Tennessee, that gave us birth,
    To thee our hearts bow down.
    For thee our love and loyalty
    Shall weave a fadeless crown.
    Thy purple hills our cradle was;
    Thy fields our mother breast
    Beneath thy sunny bended skies,
    Our childhood days were blessed.

   Chorus:
    O Tennesss: Fair Tennessee:
    Our love for thee can never die:
    Dear homeland, Tennessee.

    'Twas long ago our fathers came,
    A free and noble band,
    Across the mountain's frowning heights
    To seek a promised land.
    And here before their raptured eyes;
    In beauteous majesty:
    Outspread the smiling valleys
    Of the winding Tennesee.

    Could we forget our heritage
    Of heroes strong and brave?
    Could we do aught but cherish it,
    Unsullied to the grave?
    Ah no! the State where Jackson slepps,
    Shall ever peerless be.
    We glory in thy majesty;
    Our homeland, Tennessee.

Adoption of State Song

This song has the distinction of being the first song selected by the Tennessee Legislature to honor the state. Roy Lamont Smith, on the faculty of the Cadek Conservatory of Music in Chattanooga, put Nell Taylor's poem to music. They entered the song in a contest, won the contest and the collaboration became the official song of Tennessee. Their composition was published by I. R. Summers, Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1926, at the press of the Zimmerman Print, in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was copyrighted the same year by the Chattanooga Writers' Club.

On April 10, 1926, the 64th General Assembly, by House Joint Resolution No. 36, adopted "My Homeland, Tennessee" as the official state song of Tennessee. The words of this song were written by Nell Grayson Taylor and the music by Roy Lamont Smith. Excerpts from Joint Resolution No. 36 follow.

WHEREAS, The late George Fort Milton of Chattanooga, one of Tennessee's most highly esteemed and patriotic citizens, offered and awarded a prize for the best words and the best music submitted for a State Song, and,

WHEREAS, The committee headed by Mrs. John I. Meek and Mrs. George Fort Milton, worked for a period of three years upon said contest to secure a creditable and noteworthy State Song, and,

WHEREAS, The Judges have awarded the prize for the best State Song that could be had to Miss Nell Grayson Taylor, poet, and to Roy Lamont Smith, eminent music composer, and,

WHEREAS, The Women's Organizations of the State have adopted the same and the school children all over the State are singing it successfully and it is pronounced by the Music Clubs to be an excellent piece of music which may well be dedicated to the great old Volunteer State as its State Song,

Be it resolved, That the House of Representatives, the Senate Concurring, do accept and adopt this song, "My Homeland, Tennessee", as the State Song of Tennessee.

Tennessee Code

The following information is excerpted from the Tennessee General Statutes, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, Section 302. The words are not included within the statute. Note that the statute lists "My Homeland, Tennessee" as adopted in 1925. Others have also named the year of adoption as 1925. However, the bulk of our evidence indicates that this song was adopted in 1926.

TITLE 4. STATE GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART 3. STATE SYMBOLS
SECTION 302.

4-1-302. State songs. The official songs of this state shall be as follows:

(1) "My Homeland, Tennessee" by Nell Grayson Taylor and Roy Lamont Smith, as adopted by House Joint Resolution 36 in 1925;

(2) "When It's Iris Time In Tennessee" by Willa Mae Waid, as adopted by Acts 1935, chapter 154;

(3) "My Tennessee" by Francis Hannah Tranum, as adopted by Senate Joint Resolution 35 in 1955, as the official public school song in Tennessee;

(4) "The Tennessee Waltz" by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King, as adopted by Senate Joint Resolution 9 in 1965; and

(5) "Rocky Top" by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, as adopted by Acts 1982, chapter 545.

[Acts 1935, ch. 154, §§ 1, 2; mod. C. Supp. 1950, §§ 107.1, 107.2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 4-107; Acts 1982, ch. 545, § 1.]

Source: Tennessee State Web Site, (http://www.state.tn.us), December 5, 2004
Source: Tennessee General Assembly, (http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/), December 5, 2004
Source: Tennesee Blue Book, (http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/index.htm), December 5, 2004
Source: Tennessee State Symbols, by Rob Simbeck, Copyright 1995
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
Source: State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols by George Earlie Shankle, Ph.D., Copyright 1938

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