“Hail Minnesota” was written by two University of Minnesota students in 1904 and 1905 for a play, which later became the school’s alma mater. In 1945, it became the state song. The lyrics celebrate Minnesota’s natural beauty and the loyalty of its residents. The song references the state’s diverse landscape and was commissioned for an official recording in 2006.
The official state song of Minnesota is titled “Hail Minnesota” and was written in 1904 and 1905 by two students of the University of Minnesota, Truman E. Rickard and Arthur E. Upson. The words and music were originally written for a play called The Apple of Discord, which was performed at the university, after which it became the school’s alma mater. In 1945, after the university’s alumni association agreed to release its copyright, “Hail Minnesota” was adopted as the state song by Minnesota Laws 1945 Joint Resolution Number 15. The Mahtomedi High School Chamber Singers created an official recording of the song, commissioned in 2006 by Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer. The song’s lyrics pay homage to Minnesota’s natural beauty and celebrate the loyalty of its residents.
Writing the Minnesota State Song was a collaborative effort between two University of Minnesota students in 1904 and 1905. Truman E. Rickard wrote the first verse and the music, which is described in the original sheet music as a lively march , while Arthur E. Upson wrote the second verse. The second line of the song was originally “Hail to you, our college dear” as a gesture of loyalty to the school. This was changed to “Hail Our State So Dear” when Hail Minnesota became the official state song. To facilitate this act, the University of Minnesota alumni association has agreed to release their copyright to “Hail Minnesota”.
The main theme of “Hail Minnesota” is loyalty. The state is referred to as the “light in the north,” providing continuous guidance and a solid point of reference for its residents no matter where they may travel. The state is also likened to a “beacon, bright and clear” to which its “true sons and daughters will proclaim you near and far.” These lyrics from the Minnesota state song describe the pride the residents have in their “so dear state.”
Minnesota’s state song also references the state’s natural beauty using metaphors reminiscent of the environment. The beginning of the second line is a good example: “Like the brook that bends to the sea, like the pine that seeks the blue, Minnesota still to you, your children are strong and true.” Other lines such as “From your woods and fair waters, from your far-swaying prairies” identify the state’s diverse landscape.
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