Illinois State Song

[UpsidedownLincoln]

@pucandjenmeece I'm from Illinois and I don't understand this hokey BS, I believe we need to adopt a new state song. One which fits with a more modern perspective of our state.

[PunkMLA]

my friend thinks ur hot

[PunkMLA]

illionis sucks donkey balls!Arizona is better!!!woot woot!!!

[11violinchick]

@PunkMLA disrespectful.



[slaterchickforever]

f that

[lecomtedalport]

Beautiful Hymn of a great state ! With my moste respectfull congratulations !

[pucandjenmeece]

if you aren't from IL you wouldn't understand. GREAT SONG!

[Ringo111222]

Hey, if you can, please give me the Lyrics of the Song. I really want to know them. Thanks

[Baritone45]

Lyrics, with extra verses, are in the first page of comments.

[tsingybutt]

Just search for "Illinois state song" on wikipedia. They're all there.

[Baritone45]

On second listening, the diction is fine, but not excellent. And "recerd"? I suppose we were a bit stuffy, but we always sang recohd as choirs normally do with r sounds.

[Baritone45]

Wow, this number has comments!

Excellent work, again.

Lousy camera work. A guy does a great job on the solo and we have NO CLUE who it was. Didn't see him once!

More deliberate and again, tighter harmony & cleaner tone than we had in the mid-80s.

I do have 2 complaints.

1. Too slow.

2. I'm a lover of Latin i's, but the i's in Illinois go overboard even for me. Definitely better though than sportscasters' Ellinois.

Also diction could be better. Mr. Olson was big on diction & phrasing.

[redekulus]

What the hell are you people saying????

[TMD4444]

Nice to hear a little state pride these days after being made such a national laughing stock by some of our pathetic politicians. It's still a great state...

[froggygirl111]

i`t sooooooo good ,i wonder how they can sing so well

[loriloristuff]

Nice job fellas!

And it's the first & fourth verse, big whoop!

[illinitop]

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.

[Baritone45]

Thanks for the other verses, IlliniTop.

I had never heard nor seen those.

I would like to suggest to the "appropriate authority" a change to the final line, but I have no idea who would have such authority, except perhaps Dr. Coleman, as he is the presenter of the song at the state's flagship institution.

How about

"Reagan, Obama and our cheers" ?

It's balanced. updated and positive.

"Dutch, Obama and our cheers" fits better, but most people would miss the former president's nickname.

[illinitop]

I was a member of the Marching Illini and the song is performed as the entrance song of the band at football games.

I believe you would have to petition the Illinois government concerning the song's lyrics because they made it the "official song" of the state of Illinois a long time ago in Springfield.

[bobwaters]

That would not be an improvement.

[illinitop]

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,

[illinitop]

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.

[illinitop]

Grant, Logan and our tears....illinois...illinois..­.