OK I thought I posted this earlier, but it seems to have gotten lost
in cyberspace, so I'll try again:
Here are the lyrics to the MD state song. Does anyone have any idea
what they are talking about? It mentions some people I've never heard
of, and some people named after counties (or is it vice versa?) and I
can't figure out if it is about the whole history of MD, or the
revolutionary war, or the civil war, or both, or the founding of MD,
or what. Does anyone know who Ringgold and Watson were, and what
Monterey has to do with anything? It's awfully long, in any case.
Maryland State Song - "Maryland, My Maryland"
by James Ryder Randall
Maryland, My Maryland
I
The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
II
Hark to an exiled son's appeal,
Maryland!
My Mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life or death, for woe or weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird they beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
III
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!
IV
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!
V
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And sing thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VI
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
Sic semper! 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back amain,
Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VII
I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek,
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VIII
Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the shot, the blade, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the Soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!
IX
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She burns! She'll come! She'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!
--- In [email protected], "Sean" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email protected], "Retha" <love4dalord@>
> wrote:
> >
> > About Maryland's state song being set to the same tune as O Christmas
> > Tree...
> >
> > Yes, true, and you do hear the notes in the air walking across
> campus,
> > but only when the marching band is practicing. That's not what the
> > chapel bells play on the hour.
> > They play our alma mater.
> >
> > Just to let everyone know.
> >
>
> Didn't Maryland disavow the original lyrics of the state song some
> years ago? And substitute some banal stuff, instead?
> Just as Virginia is still searching for a state (commonwealth) song
> after at least a decade-long search? Didn't the SI address this just
> a few weeks ago?
>
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