Tuning in at the Legislature

Posted at 11:13 AM on March 3, 2008 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

Now that we've gotten the poet laureate problem solved in Minnesota, lawmakers are moving on to the state anthem. You know, the one we don't have.

HF2961, which gets a hearing today at 4 p.m., creates a state anthem commission with the idea of having an official anthem in place by the end of the year.

Judging by the bill's text, however, the fix is in for "Hail Minnesota," which apparently is the most popular of all the songs about Minnesota that most people don't know. While it is the state song, it is not the state anthem. And apparently we need a state anthem to sing, ummm, when?

Minnesota, hail to thee!
Hail to thee, our state so dear,
Thy light shall ever be
A beacon bright and clear.
Thy son and daughters true
Will proclaim thee near and far,
They shall guard thy fame and adore thy name;
Thou shalt be their Northern Star.

Like the stream that bends to sea,
Like the pine that seeks the blue;
Minnesota, still for thee
Thy sons are strong and true.
From the woods and waters fair;
From the prairies waving far,
At thy call they throng with their shout and song;
Hailing thee their Northern Star.

A similar version presently exists as the University of Minnesota hymn.

This, however, may have rough sledding. "Thy sons are strong and true?" Well, at least it didn't say anything about them being able to carry a tune.

We are not alone in this endeavor. Massachusetts, for example, unable to agree on a state song, has seven of them instead, including the official polka of Massachusetts, "Say Hello to Someone from Massachusetts," by Larry Gomulka. As if you didn't already know.

I'll tell you what, if you'd like to take a stab at an alternative version (for Minnesota, that is), send it along and I'll try to scrounge up some prizes.

How about helping out by writing a state song?

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Comments (4)

Given the recent gains by the democrats in the MN legislature and the rise of Larry Pogemiller, I would suggest adapating the famous song by the Beatles, "taxman". We are already a very high tax state, and the far left wants to increase this confiscation, so what better song then "taxman or perhaps taxstate.

Posted by Clark | March 3, 2008 12:49 PM

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So "Come Together" is out, then?

Posted by Bob Collins | March 3, 2008 1:10 PM

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I cannot stand our state song... the only people that know it are the annoying University alum that bother to learn it. On top of that... it is an incredibly boring tune(In My Opinion). We have a great musical community here in Minnesota, I think it wouldn't be too hard to come up with a great anthem for us.

After this, I hope we can get back to that state flag business....

Posted by gml4 | March 3, 2008 11:52 PM

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How 'bout this one Bobbo?

The Land of Plenty (pawlenty)

Don't really have the courage
To stand where I must stand.
Don't really have the temperament
To lend a helping hand.

Don't really know who sent me
To raise my voice and say:
May the lights in The Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.

I don't know why I come here,
Knowing as I do,
What you really think of me,
What I really think of you.

For the millions in the prison,
That wealth has set apart -
For the Christ who has not risen,
From the caverns of the heart -

For the innermost decision,
That we cannot but obey -
For what's left of our religion,
I lift my voice and pray:
May the lights in The Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.

I know I said I'd meet you,
I'd meet you at the store,
But I can't buy it, baby.
I can't buy it anymore.

And I don't really know who sent me,
To raise my voice and say:
May the lights in The Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.

For the innermost decision
That we cannot but obey
For what's left of our religion
I lift my voice and pray:
May the lights in The Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.

~ Leonard Cohen ~

Ten New Songs

Posted by Mud E. Upyerblog | March 4, 2008 9:50 AM

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