(Continued from last Blog – “Take a Bitter Song and Make it Better)

S. H. M. Byers never forgot the Confederate soldiers singing the bitter words of Maryland, My Maryland outside his prison window in 1863.  Byers said at that time, “I would like some day to put that tune to loyal words.”¹  Thirty-four years later, he wrote the lyrics for the beautiful “Song of Iowa,” which has been adopted as the official state song.  Why did it take 34 years to write this song?   The answer to that question will be covered in my next blog, after Christmas.  But since Christmas is only a few days away, now is the appropriate time to sing a Christmas carol.

Byers wrote the lyrics to the song one day in 1897.  The following night “a French concert singer at the Foster Opera House in Des Moines sang the new song upon the request of Mr. Byers.  The number was a great success and was encored again and again.”¹ The song was set to the tune of “O Tannenbaum” which is also known as “O Christmas Tree.”  Below are the lyrics.

 If you would like to sing the lyrics with music, move the cursor to “Listen to MIDI” and click.  Then open Windows Media Player and the music will start.  Then minimize the Windows Media Player; or at the bottom of the screen, click back on the blog and you will have the lyrics with the music.  Merry Christmas!

Official Song of the
State of Iowa

Iowa State Song
Written by S.H.M. Byers
To the music of Tannenbaum

You asked what land I love the best, Iowa, tis Iowa,
The fairest State of all the west, Iowa, O! Iowa,
From yonder Mississippi’s stream
To where Missouri's waters gleam
O! fair it is as poet's dream, Iowa, in Iowa.

See yonders fields of tasseled corn, Iowa in Iowa,
Where plenty fills her golden horn, Iowa in Iowa,
See how her wonderous praries shine.
To yonder sunset’s purpling line,
O! happy land, O! land of mine, Iowa, O! Iowa.

And she has maids whose laughing eyes, Iowa, O! Iowa.
To him whose loves were Paradise, Iowa, O! Iowa
O! happiest fate that e’er was known.
Such eyes to shine for one alone,
To call such beauty all his own. Iowa, O! Iowa

Go read the story of thy past. Iowa, O! Iowa
What glorious deeds, what fame thou hast! Iowa, O! Iowa
So long as time’s great cycle runs,
Or nations weep their fallen ones,
Thou’lt not forget thy patriot sons, Iowa, O! Iowa

^{1 State Handbook & Guide (SHG) Resources, Iowa Symbols, State Song:  Song of Iowa}