Iowa’s official state song, The Song of Iowa, was adopted in 1911 and was written by Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers. The Corn Song, an unofficial state song, is more popular and was written by George Hamilton in 1912. Iowa is known for its corn and other agricultural products, and has various state symbols including the eastern goldfinch, wild prairie pink, and northern red oak.
Iowa, the Hawkeye State, officially adopted the Iowa State Song in 1911, making The Song of Iowa a state symbol. In 1897, Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers wrote the lyrics, based on the traditional German folk song, O, Tannenbaum.
The first verse of the state song refers to the Midwestern state as the most beautiful of all and a poet’s dream. He goes on to mention the cornfields, bright prairies and sunsets, calling the state a paradise. The song ends by encouraging residents to learn about the state’s history and to remember its patriot sons who died in battle.
Is there another Iowa state song?
The residents have unofficially adopted another Iowa state song that may be more popular and better known than The Song of Iowa. The Corn Song employs a rousing chorus that proclaims, “Here’s where the tall corn grows,” usually sung with the hands raised.
The Corn Song sounds less serious than The Song of Iowa and refers to the state as IO-Way. Many lines end with “Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho”. Iowans typically enjoy the energetic feel of this song about the state’s main crop.
The Corn Song was written by George Hamilton in 1912. He was a community leader in the Chamber of Commerce and in the Masonic Lodge. After Hamilton traveled to California for a Shriners convention, he apparently saw the need for an Iowa state song suitable for a marching band. He collaborated with bandleader John T. Beeston to write the song to Traveling.
What are the lyrics of The Corn Song?
Let’s sing the grand old IO-Way,
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
Our love is stronger every day,
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
So come and join the crowd,
Sev-‘ral hundreds of thousands of strong sand
As soon as you come sing this song,
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
We come from IO-way, IO-way.
State of all the earth,
Joy in every hand.
We come from IO-way, IO-way.
That’s where the tall corn grows
Our land is full of ripe grain,
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
We have seen it grow both night and morning,
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
But now we rest, we passed the test.
Whatever is good we have the best
I-way reached the crest,
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
We come from IO-way, IO-way.
State of all the earth,
Joy in every hand.
We come from IO-way, IO-way.
That’s where the tall corn grows
We come from IO-way, IO-way.
State of all the earth,
Joy in every hand.
We come from IO-way, IO-way.
That’s where the tall corn grows
What are the lyrics of The Song of Iowa, the official state song?
You ask me which land I love the most, Iowa, tis Iowa,
The coolest state in the whole west, Iowa, OR! Iowa.
From that Mississippi current
Where the Missouri waters shine
Oh! right is like a poet’s dream, Iowa, Iowa.
Look yonder cornfields, Iowa to Iowa,
Where plenty fills its golden horn, Iowa in Iowa.
See how its beautiful grasslands sparkle
To the purple sunset line,
Oh! terra felice, oh! terra mia, Iowa, oh! Iowa.
And has maids whose laughing eyes, Iowa, oh! Iowa,
For lovers it was heaven, Iowa, oh! Iowa.
Oh! the happiest fate that was ever known,
Such eyes to shine for only one,
To call such a beauty all her own, Iowa, oh! Iowa.
Go read your past story, Iowa, oh! Iowa,
What glorious deeds, what fame you have! Iowa, O! Iowa.
As long as the great cycle of time runs,
Or the nations mourn their fallen,
You won’t forget your patriot sons, Iowa, oh! Iowa.
Do all states have a state song?
According to 50States.com, 49 out of 50 states have an official state song. New Jersey doesn’t have an official state song, but there is one unofficial tune that has never been signed by the governor: I’m From New Jersey.
What other symbols does the state of Iowa have?
Called Hawkeye State and Corn State, the flag of Iowa contains vertical stripes of red, white, and blue, with an image of a bald eagle over the white section. The state motto, “We reward our freedom, we will maintain our rights,” appears on a streamer below the eagle. Iowa became the 29th state in 1846.
Other state symbols include the eastern goldfinch as state bird, wild prairie pink as state flower, and northern red oak as state tree. Iowa’s unofficial state fish is the channel catfish.
What is Iowa known for?
In addition to corn, Iowa is a major producer of soybeans, oats, cattle and pigs.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
