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Illinois
Written by C.H.
Chamberlain
Composed by Archibald Johnston
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 commerical
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.
The 54th Illinois General Assembly
enacted legislation establishing the
State Song.
source: Illinois Blue Book,
1983-1984
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