The "North Dakota Hymn" is the
state song
A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and European ...
of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
North Dakota
North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...
. It was written by poet James Foley at the request of
North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
The North Dakota superintendent of public instruction oversees the operations of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The superintendent enforces state and federal statutes and regulations regarding public schools and related program ...
Minnie Nielson in 1926 to the tune of "
The Austrian Hymn". Dr. Clarence Simeon "C.S." Putnam arranged the music with distinct
ragtime
Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that had its peak from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its Syncopation, syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers ...
syncopation.
Lyrics
:North Dakota, North Dakota,
:With thy prairies wide and free,
:All thy sons and daughters love thee,
:Fairest state from sea to sea;
:North Dakota, North Dakota,
:Here we pledge ourselves to thee.
:Hear thy loyal children singing,
:Songs of happiness and praise,
:Far and long the echoes ringing,
:Through the vastness of thy ways;
:North Dakota, North Dakota,
:We will serve thee all our days.
:Onward, onward, onward going,
:Light of courage in thine eyes,
:Sweet the winds above thee blowing,
:Green thy fields and fair thy skies;
:North Dakota, North Dakota,
:Brave the Soul that in thee lies.
:God of freedom, all victorious,
:Give us Souls serene and strong,
:Strength to make the future glorious,
:Keep the echo of our song;
:North Dakota, North Dakota,
:In our hearts forever long.
References
External links
Sheet music on North Dakota state website
United States state songs
Music of North Dakota
Songs about North Dakota
Symbols of North Dakota
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