Our sorry state
Monday, Nov 9, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller * I doubt many Illinoisans know the words to our state song. Click here for the best version I’ve ever heard. But the commenter known as “Fiercely Independent” came up with some alternate lyrics…
* Meanwhile, somebody who goes by the online handle “warh201″ has a new rap song about the impasse. Click here.
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- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 9:08 am:
“Any song about Illinois could use a fiddle.” — Nero (attributed)
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 9:17 am:
Those are pretty sweet lyrics there “Fiercely Independent”.
Well played.
If you click and watch and listen the rap song… Woah.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 9:21 am:
As long as “Georgia” by Ray Charles is out there, you might as well not even have a state song. Any comparison is very humbling.
Willie does a great jazzy version on “Stardust,” too.
- illini - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 9:45 am:
Willy - Woah, exactly
Wordslinger - totally agree that the Willie version on “Stardust” is awesome.
- Anon - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 9:56 am:
I’ve been rooting for a version of the state song that gets rid of Logan for a while, so this works for me.
- walker - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 10:00 am:
MrJM !
- Enviro - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 10:16 am:
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.
- Enviro - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 10:18 am:
My mom sang the song “Illinois” to me when I was little.
- Honeybear - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:08 am:
Rich, why don’t you host an Illinois Christmas Carol competition after Thanksgiving. So many talented lyricists on this blog.
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:17 am:
To the pols the money’s flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
To the unions dues are growing, Illinois, Illinois,
With corruption through the years,
Names like Blago and Ryan appear,
Greedy unions and vendors bloating, Illinois, Illinois…
If you don’t like it, pack and hike it from ILLINOIS!
I remember learning the state song in elementary school, and playing it when I was in the Marching (swaggering) Illini. It was part of the “three-in-one” which now is being attacked to be stopped because there’s part that uses Indian rhythms and a Jewish professor there finds that offensive….What could be more current “Illinois”?
- illini - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:34 am:
Arizona Bob - I remember the “three-in-one” as well with the Chief. Still miss not seeing that at football and basketball games!
Now if only someone can come up with appropriate words and lyrics to ” Hail to the Orange, Hail to the Blue” ‘”””””'’
- Das Man - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:00 pm:
The State’s coffers are a bleeding, Illinois, Illinois
Overweaning politicians finger pointing, Illinois
Social services are cut
They forever pass the buck
Give consent decrees by lawyers , Illinois, Illinois
The tax man will be coming, Illinois, Illinois
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
=Now if only someone can come up with appropriate words and lyrics to ” Hail to the Orange, Hail to the Blue” ‘”””””’=’
Oskee Wow Wow! Oooops, that’s politically incorrect, isn’t it?
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
We also need to change the words from “Oskee Wow Wow”. The last line is “For honest learning and for labor we stand”
Considering the way the pols and unions have destroyed “learning” in public education and what the labor unions have done to destroy the Illinois economy, I think we need to replace the word “honest”.
- Illinois law - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
Sorry AB,
The state song is not part of the three-in-one.
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
@Illlinois Law
Actually, it’s the tune that’s played when the band initially steps off on the field. Look it up. It isn’t the WHOLE song, but it is the first verse. My bad. It really isn’t in the “three in one”
The first time I heard it, I wondered what song it was because it sounded kind of cool.
When I read the sheet music, there it was.
- Bobbles - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 9:27 pm:
No budget til January, Illinois, Illinois
And our future looking scary, Illinois, Illinois,
There’s no prospect of a plan
From both Bruce and Madigan
And the s**t will hit the fan in Illinois, Illinois
Yes the s**t will hit the fan in Illinois