Illinois State Symbol: State Song — "Illinois, Illinois"
The words to "Illinois, Illinois" were written by C.H. Chamberlain and the music was composed by Archibald Johnston. Johnston was active circa 1870-85 and wrote other songs, such as "Baby Mine", "Our Little Daisy", "Darling Nell" , "Kiss Me, Would You?", "Flowers Frae Home", and" The Sailor’s Home."
The 54th General Assembly (1955) enacted legislation establishing the State Song.
ILLINOIS
By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
O’er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an echo on the breeze.
Rustling through the leafy trees,
and its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois.
From a wilderness
of prairies, Illinois, Illinois,
Straight thy way and never varies, Illinois, Illinois,
Till upon the inland sea,
Stands thy great commercial tree,
turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois,
Turning all the world to thee, Illinois.
When you heard your
country calling, Illinois, Illinois,
Where the shot and shell were falling, Illinois, Illinois,
When the Southern host withdrew,
Pitting Gray against the Blue,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois, Illinois,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois.
Not without thy wondrous
story, Illinois, Illinois,
Can be writ the nation’s glory, Illinois, Illinois,
On the record of thy years,
Abraham Lincoln’s name appears,
Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois, Illinois,
Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois.