“Here We Have Idaho” is the state song of Idaho, created by McKinley Helm, Albert J. Tompkins, and Alice Bessee by combining the instrumental score of “Garden of Paradise.” The song was originally known as “Our Idaho” and became the alma mater song of the University of Idaho before being adopted as the state song in 1931. The lyrics describe the state’s wilderness and pioneer heritage.
Idaho’s state song is called “Here We Have Idaho,” although it was previously known by its former title “Our Idaho” before its official adoption in the state legislature. Just like with many other state songs, it was created through the collaboration of a few talented citizens of the state. The song’s instrumental score was originally a separate piece of music called “Garden of Paradise,” which a composer named Sallie Hume Douglas completed in 1915. A University of Idaho student named McKinley Helm added the first words to the chorus two years After. Another musician named Albert J. Tompkins added two more lines, and a composer named Alice Bessee finished the Idaho state song by combining all the words with the musical notes of “Garden of Paradise.”
Sallie Hume Douglas’s instrumental song became a popular piece not long after its release, and Alice Bessee later chose it as the theme song for the Idaho State Song because many Idaho citizens were familiar with the tune. She was curiously unaware of the identity of the composer or of the details of her origin at the time she added the lyrics. Once finished, the song first known as “Our Idaho” soon became the University of Idaho’s adopted alma mater song, largely due to the lyricists’ connections to the state education system.
McKinley Helm’s original chorus combined with the music of Sallie Hume Douglas won the university an annual award in 1917. This early version of the song soon became a regular selection played at University of Idaho student and alumni events. Its subsequent adoption as the state song of Idaho was considered an easy choice due to the large number of citizens who associated it with school spirit and state pride.
Albert J. Tompkins had a distinguished background as a music director for the Boise school system. He’s lyrics of the Idaho state song are reminiscent of wild wilderness imagery and pioneer heritage, as is the case with many other Western state songs in the United States. He added lines describing the state’s forests, hills and valleys, as well as the residents’ pride in the beauty of the land. When the song was renamed “Here We Have Idaho” and under consideration in the state legislature, its official adoption into law in 1931 specifically gave written credit to both Albert J. Tompkins and McKinley Helm as lyric writers.
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