Hail! Minnesota

"Hail! Minnesota" (also simply called "Minnesota" in early years) is the state song of Minnesota, and a variation is used as a school song of the University of Minnesota. It originated at the university in the early 1900s when some students decided to honor their graduating class with a new song. In 1945, the Minnesota State Legislature approved the tune as the state song.

History

The song was first composed by Truman Rickard in 1904 and was performed on Class Day, May 28. The songs second verse originally honored the school's president, Cyrus Northrop, who went by the nickname "Prexy". Northrop appreciated the gesture, but preferred to have the song reflect the school and state rather than himself. A new second verse was written by Arthur Upson, an editor at the campus newspaper, the "Minnesota Daily".

In the next few years, the song gained popularity, and was even sung at football games whenever there was a touchdown. However, the slow ballad proved to be incongruous with the atmosphere at an athletic event like that, so it was eventually succeeded in that role by The "Minnesota Rouser." Rickard also went on to write another school song, "Minnesota Fight."

The University of Minnesota Marching Band sings the song at the end of every practice and performance, so Golden Gopher football fans who stay for the band's post-game performance can hear the song.

Older generations of Minnesota children were commonly taught the song in school, but many younger Minnesotans are unaware of it. However, it is being promoted again as part of the state sesquicentennial celebration. The Mahtomedi High School Chamber Singers made an official recording of it in 2006 for the Secretary of State.

Lyrics

tate version

:Minnesota, Hail to Thee!:Hail to Thee, our state so dear,:Thy light shall ever be:A beacon bright and clear.:Thy sons 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 their woods and waters fair,:From their prairies waving far;:At thy call they throng with their shout and song;:Hailing Thee their Northern Star!

University version

:Minnesota, Hail to Thee!:Hail to Thee, our College dear!:Thy light shall ever be:A beacon bright and clear.:Thy sons and daughters true:Will proclaim Thee near and far.:They will guard thy fame, and adore thy name;:Thou shalt be their Northern Star!

:("Currently, the second verse is same as above, although it originally honored the school's president")

:Hail to Thee our Prexy, Sire,:Thou hast made us all thine own,:And our hearts one boon aspire.:That our love may be thy throne.:Throughout our future years:Naught can e'er thy memory mar.:We will guard thy fame:And adore thy name,:Thy shall be our Northern Star.

References

*cite book
last = University of Minnesota Band Alumni Society
title = Minnesota, Hats Off To Thee
publisher = Taylor Publishing Company
date = 1992
pages = p. 191-192
id = ISBN 0-9629747-0-6
*cite web
title = Hail! Minnesota
publisher = Regents of the University of Minnesota
date = 2005-05-5
url = http://www.music.umn.edu/marchingband/history/hailminn.html
accessdate = 2006-09-09

External links

* [http://www.sos.state.mn.us/student/song.html Minnesota Secretary of State] with sheet music and recording.