Illinois State Song Illinois C.H. Chamberlain Archibald Johnston (original) (raw)

By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
O'er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an echo on the breeze.
Rustling through the leafy trees, 
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois.

From a wilderness of prairies, Illinois, Illinois,
Straight thy way and never varies, Illinois, Illinois,
Till upon the inland sea,
Stands thy great commercial tree,
Turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois,
Turning all the world to thee, Illinois.

When you heard your country calling, Illinois, Illinois,
Where the shot and shell were falling, Illinois, Illinois,
When the Southern host withdrew,
Pitting Gray against the Blue,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois, Illinois,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois.

Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Illinois,
Can be writ the nation's glory, Illinois, Illinois,
On the record of thy years,
Abraham Lincoln's name appears,
Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois, Illinois,
Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois.

Adoption of State Song

The song, "Illinois," was adopted as the Illinois state song by the Fifty-fourth General Assembly on June 30, 1925.

Illinois Compiled Statutes

The following information is excerpted from the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

GENERAL PROVISIONS
STATE DESIGNATIONS ACT
SECTION 35

Sec. 35. State song. The song "Illinois", words written by C. H. Chamberlain and music composed by Archibald Johnston, is designated the official State song of Illinois. The words and music of the song are set forth at Laws 1925, pages 602 and 603, and are incorporated into this Section by reference.

Source: Illinois State Web Site, (http://www.state.il.us), NOVEMBER 24, 2004
Source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Copyright 2002
Source: State Songs America, Edited by M.J. Bristow, Copyright 2000
Source: State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols by George Earlie Shankle, Ph.D., Copyright 1938