Old New Hampshire
Regional anthem of New Hampshire | |
Lyrics | John F. Holmes, 1926 |
---|---|
Music | Maurice Hoffman, 1926 |
Adopted | 1949 |
Readopted | November 1977 |
"Old New Hampshire" is the
History
In 1926, Dr. John F. Holmes of Manchester wrote the song's lyrics. Maurice Hoffman, Jr., the Franklin Street Congregational Church organist of Manchester, wrote the music. The 1941 General Court voted against making it the state song, and the 1943 General Court killed a bill public contest with cash prizes, to pick a state song. In 1949, the General Court voted in favor of designating "Old New Hampshire" as the state song.
In 1963, the legislature approved "New Hampshire, My New Hampshire", by Julius Richelson and Walter P. Smith of
In March 1977, "Autumn in New Hampshire," by Leo Austin of Warner, was added as the "Fourth State Song". The addition of this song coincided with the creation of an interim board to recommend one "official" state song and designate the remainder of songs as "honorary".
In June 1977, another song law was enacted by the General Court which added four more songs to the listing of state songs, with a stipulation that if none were chosen by the Board as the official state song, they would become "honorary" state songs. The four songs were: "New Hampshire's Granite State" by Annie B. Currier of Londonderry; "Oh, New Hampshire (You're My Home)" by Brownie Macintosh of Hampton; "The Old Man of the Mountain" by Paul Belanger of Berlin, and "The New Hampshire State March" by Rene Richards of Nashua.
The State Song Selection Board consisted of Rep. Richardson D. Benton of
On November 29, 1977, the announcement of the name of the official song was made in Representatives Hall. New Hampshire
In 1983, "New Hampshire Naturally," with words and music by Rick and Ron Shaw, was added to the list of state songs listed in RSA 3:7.
Lyrics
- With a skill that knows no measure,
- From the golden store of Fate
- God, in His great love and wisdom,
- Made the rugged Granite State;
- Made the lakes, the fields, the forests;
- Made the Rivers and the drills;
- Made the bubbling, crystal fountains
- Of New Hampshire's Granite Hills
- Refrain
- Old New Hampshire, Old New Hampshire
- Old New Hampshire Grand and Great
- We will sing of Old New Hampshire,
- Of the dear old Granite State
- Built the New Hampshire glorious
- From the borders to the sea;
- And with matchless charm and splendor
- Blessed her for eternity.
- Hers, the majesty of mountain;
- Hers, the grandeur of the lake;
- Hers, the truth as from the hillside
- Where her crystal waters break
- Refrain
Honorary state songs
- "New Hampshire, my New Hampshire" with words by Julius Richelson and music by Walter P. Smith.
- "New Hampshire Hills" with words by Paul Scott Mowrer and music by Tom Powers.
- "Autumn in New Hampshire" with words and music by Leo Austin.
- "New Hampshire's Granite State" with words and music by Anne B. Currier.
- "Oh, New Hampshire (You're My Home)" with words and music by Brownie Macintosh.
- "The Old Man of the Mountain" with words and music by Paul Belanger.
- "The New Hampshire State March" with words and music by Rene Richards.
- "New Hampshire Naturally" with words and music by Rick Shaw and Ron Shaw
- "Live Free or Die" with words and music by Barry Palmer