Michigan, My Michigan

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"My Michigan" is the official state song of the State of Michigan, although a more popular song called "Michigan, My Michigan" is considered by many to be Michigan's "unofficial" state song. Winifred Lee Brent Lyster of Detroit wrote the lyrics for the first version of "Michigan, My Michigan" in 1862 to the tune of "O Tannenbaum" Her husband, Henry, was a Civil War surgeon, and Mrs. Lyster was inspired to write the song after the battle of Fredericksburg.

In 1886, Major James W. Long of Grand Rapids wrote new lyrics for "Michigan, My Michigan" for Michigan's semi-centennial celebration. While his words hail Michigan's attributes ("lake-bound shore," "thy pines," jewels glitter in thy mines" and "sails of commerce"), they do not forget the Civil War veterans with references that include "on trust Thy noble sons have bit the dust" and "Thy diadem—thy hero sons."

Douglas Malloch composed new lyrics—deemed more suitable for peacetime—for a convention of the Michigan State Federation of Woman's Clubs in Muskegon in 1902. After the convention, the member clubs sang it at club meetings and at state conventions. Schools have also used it in musical and patriotic programs.

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[edit] 1862 lyrics

Home of my heart, I sing of thee!
Michigan, My Michigan,
Thy lake-bound shores I long to see,
Michigan, my Michigan.
From Saginaw’s tall whispering pines
To Lake Superior’s farthest mines,
Fair in the light of memory shines
Michigan, my Michigan.


Thou gav’st thy sons without a sigh,
Michigan, my Michigan,
And sent thy bravest forth to die,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Beneath a hostile southern sky
They bore thy banner proud and high,
Ready to fight but never fly,
Michigan, my Michigan.


From Yorktown on to Richmond’s wall,
Michigan, my Michigan,
They bravely fight, as bravely fall,
Michigan, my Michigan.
To Williamsburgh we point with pride—
Our Fifth and Second, side by side,
There stemmed and stayed the battle’s tide,
Michigan, my Michigan.


When worn with watching traitor foes,
Michigan, my Michigan,
The welcome night brought sweet repose,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The soldier, weary from the fight,
Sleeps sound, nor fears the rebels’ might,
For “Michigan’s on guard tonight!”
Michigan, my Michigan.


Afar on Shiloh’s fatal plain,
Michigan, my Michigan,
Again behold thy heroes slain,
Michigan, my Michigan.
“Their strong arms crumble in the dust,
And their bright swords have gathered rust;
Their memory is our sacred trust,”
Michigan, my Michigan.


And often in the coming years,
Michigan, my Michigan,
Some widowed mother ‘ll dry her tears,
Michigan, my Michigan,
And turning with a thrill of pride,
Say to the children at her side,
At Antietam your father died,
For Michigan, our Michigan.


With General Grant’s victorious name,
Michigan, my Michigan,
Thy sons still onward march to fame,
Michigan, my Michigan.
And foremost in the fight we see,
Where e’er the bravest dare to be,
The sabres of thy cavalry,
Michigan, my Michigan.


Dark rolled the Rappahannock’s flood,
Michigan, my Michigan,
The tide was crimsoned with thy blood,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Although for us the clay was lost,
Still it shall be our broadest boast:
At Fredericksburg our Seventh crossed!
Michigan, my Michigan.


And when the happy time shall come,
Michigan, my Michigan,
That brings thy war-worn heroes home,
Michigan, my Michigan,
What welcome from their own proud shore,
What honors at their feet we’ll pour,
What tears for those who’ll come no more,
Michigan, my Michigan.


A grateful country claims them now,
Michigan, my Michigan,
And deathless laurel binds each brow,
Michigan, my Michigan;
And history the tale will tell,
Of how they fought and how they fell,
For that dear land they loved so well,
Michigan, my Michigan.

[edit] 1886 lyrics

Land of my love, I sing of thee,
Michigan, my Michigan;
With lake-bound shore, I'm proud of thee,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The sweet winds whisper through thy pines,
The jewels glitter in thy mines,
And glory on thy chaplet shines—
Michigan, my Michigan.


I've traveled all thy confines o'er,
Michigan, my Michigan;
From lake to lake, and shore to shore,
Michigan, my Michigan.
I've seen thy maimed, thy halt, thy blind,
I’ve seen the ones bereft of mind,
To all of them thou art so kind—
Michigan, my Michigan.


Thou art so pure, but modest, too,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Thou art so brave and still so true,
Michigan, my Michigan.
No promise unfulfilled;—on trust
Thy noble sons have bit the dust,
Remembered are they. For thou art just—
Michigan, my Michigan.


The axe resounds 'mid woodland trees,
Michigan, my Michigan;
The sails of commerce court thy breeze,
Michigan, my Michigan.
And templed cities rise in sight,
And happy eyes catch heaven's light,
Our God protects thee through the night,
Michigan, my Michigan.


Oh! Alma Mater, at thy shrine,
Michigan, my Michigan;
I worship thee as most devine,
Michigan, my Michigan,
"Tuebor" "I’ll protect," 'tis true—
Oh, fair peninsula! and you—
Shine out a gem in starry blue,
Michigan, my Michigan,


Thy diadem —thy hero sons,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Thy choicest love—their helpless ones,
Michigan, my Michigan.
And just as long as song shall ring
From those who bring an offering,
To thee, my love, this song shall sing—
Michigan, my Michigan.

[edit] 1902 lyrics

A song to thee, fair State of mine,
Michigan, my Michigan.
But greater song than this is thine,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The thunder of the inland sea,
The whisper of the towering tree,
United in one grand symphony
Michigan, my Michigan.


I sing a song of all the best—
Michigan, my Michigan.
I sing a State with riches blessed—
Michigan, my Michigan.
Thy mines unmask a hidden store,
But richer thy historic lore,
More great the love thy builders bore,
Michigan, my Michigan.


Glow fair the bosom of thy lakes,
Michigan, my Michigan.
What melody each river makes,
Michigan, my Michigan.
As to thy lakes thy rivers tend,
Thy exiled ones still to thee send
Devotion that shall never end,
Michigan, my Michigan.


Rich in the wealth that makes a State,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Great in the things that make men great,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Eager the voice that sounds thy claim,
Under the golden roll of Fame,
Willing the hand that writes the name,
“Michigan, my Michigan.”

[edit] Michigan's State Songs

Sung since the Civil War, "Michigan, My Michigan" has long been considered Michigan's "unofficial" state song. Another song, "My Michigan," has been all but forgotten except in the records of the Michigan Legislature. "My Michigan" was named "an" official song (not "the" official song) of the state in 1937.

[edit] References

  • History of Michigan Federation of Women's Clubs. Michigan History Magazine, Vol. XII (January, 1928), pp. 70-75.
  • Historical Notes and Comment. Michigan History Magazine, Vol. IV, Nos. 2-3 (1920), pp. 394-395.
  • Michigan, My Michigan. Historical Collections of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, XXXV (1907), pp. 155-169.
  • Michigan, My Michigan. Michigan History Magazine, II (1918), pp. 688-689.
  • Michigan Song. Michigan History Magazine, XIII (1929), pp. 650-652.