COLLEGE PARK - Some members of the General Assembly are pushing to replace Maryland's official state song, "Maryland, My Maryland," calling it a racist, secessionist embarrassment to the state. Hover over the bolded lyrics to learn how the obscure historical references in the song represent a Civil War-era love letter to the Confederate South.
Background
The song is based on a poem written in 1861 by journalist James Ryder Randall. It was adopted as the state song in 1939, set to the tune of "O Tannenbaum."
The lyrics urge the people of Maryland to resist the Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln, and join the Confederacy, which was fighting for the right to continue enslaving African-Americans, among other issues.
The appeal was unsuccessful; Maryland never seceded from the Union.
Robert Chiles, a University of Maryland U.S. history professor, explained each line to Capital News Service.
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VERSE I
The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE II
Hark to an exiled son's appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE III
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE IV
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE V
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE VI
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
'Sic semper!' 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back again,
Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE VII
I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE VIII
Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VERSE IX
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
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!
Background
The song is based on a poem written in 1861 by journalist James Ryder Randall. It was adopted as the state song in 1939, set to the tune of "O Tannenbaum."
The lyrics urge the people of Maryland to resist the Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln, and join the Confederacy, which was fighting for the right to continue enslaving African-Americans, among other issues.
The appeal was unsuccessful; Maryland never seceded from the Union.
Robert Chiles, a University of Maryland U.S. history professor, explained each line to Capital News Service.
More Information