Utah’s state song, “Utah, This is the Place,” celebrates the state’s natural beauty and pioneering spirit. It replaced “Utah, We Love Thee” in 2003 after a petition from schoolchildren. The song also pays tribute to the state’s Mormon heritage and highlights its outdoor activities and winter sports.
The official state song of Utah is “Utah, This is the Place,” which was written by Sam and Gary Francis in 1996 for Utah’s centennial celebration. The state legislature voted to make this the new state song in 2003, replacing “Utah, We Love Thee,” which has since become the official state anthem. Utah’s state song lyrics celebrate the state’s natural beauty and the pioneering spirit of its people. The text “This is the Place” is a reference to Brigham Young’s words when he first traveled to Utah with his Mormon followers.
Utah changed its state song to “Utah, This is the Place,” following a petition from a group of schoolchildren near Salt Lake City. They told their local rep that the current state song, “Utah, We Love Thee,” was not pleasant to sing and that the new song was more popular with young people. The students also performed the proposed new song for the state legislature before voting. For it to become official, the composers had to agree to release the copyright, because it was too new to have entered the public domain. Had they retained the copyright, they would have been entitled to royalties every time the song was played.
The state of Utah is one of the richest in natural beauty and wildlife in the country and is home to several state and national parks that protect and preserve these unique resources. The state song of Utah celebrates this beauty with lyrics like “Utah! With its mountains and valleys. Utah! With its canyons and streams. You can go anywhere. But there is no one who can compare”. There are numerous outdoor activities for sports enthusiasts, such as hiking, camping and sightseeing. The state also boasts a variety of winter sports, with some of the most popular ski resorts in the country. These areas near Salt Lake City, the state capital, were highlighted when Utah hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.
Also a tribute to the state’s Mormon heritage, the lyrics of Utah’s state song summarize the founding of the state by Brigham Young and his Mormon settlers after a long and difficult wagon train journey through the Rocky Mountains: “It was Brigham Young who led pioneers across the plains. They suffered with the trials they faced, In faith they kept going until they reached the Great Salt Lake, Here they heard the words… ‘THIS IS THE PLACE!’” Today, the place where Brigham Young told his followers they had discovered that their home is a state monument called the “This is the Place” Monument.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
