Texas, Our Texas

"Texas, Our Texas" is the regional anthem of the U.S. state of Texas, adopted in the late 1920s as the official state song.

Texas, Our Texas

Regional anthem of Texas
Lyrics	William J. Marsh, 1924
Music	William J. Marsh, 1924
Adopted	1929; 94 years ago (1929)
Readopted	1993

History

It was written in 1924 by William J. Marsh,^[1][2] who was born in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and emigrated to Texas as a young man, and Gladys Yoakum Wright, a native of Fort Worth, Texas,^[3] and selected as the official 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.^[4][5][6]

Although the song has been sung since the 41st legislature in 1929,^[7][8] it was officially adopted by the 73rd legislature as the state song in 1993.^[9]

The song is usually performed just after the national anthem with a display of the flag. In the absence of the flag, those present during the song's performance are expected to face toward the music and act just as they would if the flag had been present.^[2]

The first word of the third line was originally largest, but when Alaska became the largest U.S. state when it was admitted to the United States in 1959, the word was replaced with boldest.^[10][11]

This song was sung in group by elementary students in Texas at the beginning of their school classes during the 1950s. As late as the 1990s, this song was still sung before classes in some schools, along with the pledge to the U.S. and Texan flags.^[12]

Tune

 

Lyrics

I
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:
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth,
Thro'out the ages long.

II
Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far.
Emblem of freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Chorus

III
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

References

1. Marsh, William J. (William John). "William J. Marsh Papers: A Guide". legacy.lib.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
2. "Texas State Song | TSLAC". www.tsl.texas.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
3. "Texas Official Items" (PDF). Twpd.
4. Alamo, The (2020-04-07). "Who was the Yellow Rose of Texas?". Medium. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
5. Pruitt, Sarah. "Who was the Yellow Rose of Texas?". HISTORY. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
6. Camarillo, Vicky. "Texas school board starts 'new age of understanding,' drops Confederate song 'Dixie' after years of criticism". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
7. "Texas Our Texas - The Lone Star State Song". www.texasourtexas.info. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
8. "texas, our texas, by dj ewi". dj ewi. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
9. Resource Bulletin SRS. Southern Research Station. 1996.
10. Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN 9780876112571. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
11. SPAIN, CHARLES A. (2010-06-15). "TEXAS, OUR TEXAS". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
12. "Texas our Texas". TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION. September 11, 2023. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)

External links

• "State Song" (Texas Government Code § 3101.005)