"Maryland, My Maryland" is about the Civil War, and it is pro-South. The references to the "tyrant," "vandal," etc., mean Lincoln. (With some justification--Lincoln did not treat Maryland well during the war.)
I don't know what all the other references are. Both Charles County and Carroll County are named after Charles Carroll, but I don't know whether he's the Carroll in the song or not. Here are the new, improved lyrics: Oh, join we all to lift our song Maryland, our Maryland To home and state we've loved so long Maryland, our Maryland >From western mountains to the shore >From countryside to Baltimore Salute the land that we adore Maryland, our Maryland. How can that possibly compete with patriotic gore?! --- In [email protected], "Ellen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Here are the lyrics to the Maryland State song. Can anyone tell us > what it is about? It mentions a bunch of people I never heard of, and > a bunch of people who were named after counties (or is it vice versa)? > It sounds like a battle cry, but is it the Revolutionary War or the > Civil War or both? Or a historical song about Maryland history in > general? I like the dig at Virginia though. Who were Ringgold and > Watson? and what does Monterey have to do with anything? Sure has a > lot of verses. > > 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 and death, for woe and 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 chaunt 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 again, > > 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 blade, the shot, the bowl, > Than crucifixion of the soul, > > Maryland! My Maryland! > IX > I hear the distant thunder-hum, > > > Maryland! > The Old Line's 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], "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. > > > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/weingartenchatters/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
