Maryland's State Song

Though I was Florida born, I sang the Maryland state song in grade school for five years and these are all words I could remember:

I wilt my coward in the dust,
O Maryland, My Maryland!
My dreaming sword shall never bust,
O Maryland, My Maryland!

I know those words are not even close to being the right lyrics, as I looked them up. The complete lyrics are at the bottom of this page. Go to Original Lyrics.

Ironically, I never realized as a kid that the Maryland state song is set to the tune of O Christmas Tree. I remember that when I sang the song as a kid at home my mother told me that wasn't the whole of the song, and the school had left out the "worst verses." Then, she knowingly rolled her eyes.

All we sang in music class was this one verse:

Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland! My Maryland! Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!

The verse refers to both Charles Carroll and John Eager Howard. Both were important statesmen of Maryland. We could keep that one--in spite of the dusty cowering. I think I remember singing it in connection with Maryland Day in the Spring. Maryland Day marks the date when settlers arrived on St. Clement's Island, Maryland, on March 25, 1634, long before the Civil War.

Time for new verses?

Maybe we should change the lyrics to be about the beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, my Maryland?

Maybe we could write a verse about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad to freedom through Maryland, my Maryland?

Perhaps we should sing a verse about a state with citizens divided during the Civil War in Maryland, my Maryland?

How about a verse or two about this state as "America in Miniature" in Maryland, my Maryland?

What about a verse about the beauty of the Black Eyed Susan who blooms so prettily in the meadows of Maryland, my Maryland?

Come on, daughters and sons of Maryland, you can come up with better ones!

What possible reasons could there be to otherwise change the song?

Oh, Maryland, Oh my! Maryland...there are lyrics that speak of a "tyrant," "despot," and "vandal," which refer to President Lincoln.

The North is unkindly refered to as being "Northern scum."

Original Lyrics:
Maryland! My Maryland!
I.
The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland! My 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 Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
III.
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,

Maryland! My Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland! My 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! My Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland! My 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! My Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland! My 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! My Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland! My Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain--
"Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back amain,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VII.
I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland! My Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland! My 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! My Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland! My 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! My Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland! My 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!
--James Ryder Randall, 1861.

Share your own Maryland! My Maryland lyrics.

Send me your new verses at jesterbear@verizon.net. I do not promise they will ever become part of the official Maryland state song, but if they are good, I might post them below.

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