Texas, Our Texas
"Texas, Our Texas" is the official state song of Texas. It was written in 1924 by William J. Marsh, who was born in Liverpool, England, and emigrated to Texas as a young man, and Gladys Yoakum Wright, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and selected as the state song by a concurrent resolution of the Texas Legislature in 1929 following a statewide competition. Older songs, such as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Dixie", were also considered but ultimately it was decided a new song should be composed. At times, there have been movements to replace "Texas, Our Texas" with the better known "The Eyes of Texas."
The first word of the third line was originally largest, but when Alaska became the largest state when it was admitted to the United States in 1958, the word was replaced with boldest.[1]
This song was sung in group by elementary students in Texas at the beginning of their school classes during the 1950s. At that time "largest" started the third line of the first verse. As of the 1980s, this song was still sung before classes in some schools, along with the pledge to the American and Texas flags, but with "boldest" instead of "largest."
Lyrics
- Texas, Our Texas! All hail the mighty State!
- Texas, Our Texas! So wonderful so great!
- boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
- O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.
(chorus)
- Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
- Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
- Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
- With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.
(chorus)
- Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
- Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
- Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
- Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.
Chorus:
- God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
- That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
- God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
- That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
References
- ↑ Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (Nov 8, 2011). "Texas Almanac 2012–2013". Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. Retrieved 17 November 2013.