Senate Bill 2178

AN ACT ADOPTING "MY HOME MISSISSIPPI" BY DELMA FURNISS AS THE OFFICIAL STATE SONG; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, Mississippi presently has an official state song, "Go, Mississippi" by Houston Davis, which was adopted by the Legislature in House Concurrent Resolution No. 67 (1962 Regular Session), which is sometimes used for special occasions and specific events; however, it is not a song with lyrics and melody that lend themselves for Mississippians to sing at informal gatherings and by Mississippians individually as they go about their daily lives; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature desires to provide Mississippians with an official state song whereby Mississippians will have a song appropriate for all occasions, events and daily activities; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further desires to recognize the words and music of "My Home Mississippi" as the official song of the State of Mississippi; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The lyrics and music in the song entitled "My Home Mississippi" by Delma Furniss, set to the music of a 19th Century American folk song, are hereby designated as the official song of the State of Mississippi. The music in the song is in the public domain, and the lyrics of the song consist of five (5) verses and chorus, as follows:

MY HOME MISSISSIPPI

O my heart is filled with joy ev-'ry morning as I rise,

Just to have another day beneath your warm and friendly skies,

And to share with friend and neighbor all your bountiful supplies;

You are so good to me!

From your northern hills a'rolling to your dazzling great gulf sand;

From your eastern pines so stately to your fertile Delta land;

With your fields and streams connecting - it is all so very grand!

O what a sight to see!

All your people, nice and pleasant, like a melody in tune,

With a charm and loving beauty, like a new-sprung rose in June,

And a welcome, big and glowing, like the golden harvest moon;

O hospitality!

Your mind - more fresh and ever clean than the driven winter snow;

Your heart - more pure and O more fine than the richest gold, I know;

Your soul - more filled with holiness than an angel's saintly glow;

O what a trinity!

When my final bell comes ringing - be it morning, noon or night;

When He raps upon my portal, and my spirit takes its flight;

As they lay me in your bosom, ev-'ry thing will be all right;

You've been so good to me!

Warm and friendly, Mississippi,

One and only, Mississippi,

I do love you, Mississippi,

My home you'll always be!

(2) The Division of Tourism of the Mississippi Development Authority, all other agencies of the state and all persons, firms or organizations interested in promoting the welfare of the State of Mississippi are hereby encouraged to make use of the state song "My Home Mississippi" in promoting and advancing the State of Mississippi and its citizens, and are hereby granted copyright permission by its author to use this song in pursuing and accomplishing these endeavors.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.