Senate Bill 2281

AN ACT AUTHORIZING MISSISSIPPI TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL BICENTENNIAL SONG; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the GREAT STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, her government officials, and all her people will be celebrating her BICENTENNIAL in the year 2017; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further desires that all Mississippians have the opportunity to join together in an official BICENTENNIAL song--a song that vividly describes Mississippi and her people--a song that will instill pride and joy in the hearts of every Mississippian--a song that expresses joy and love that Mississippians have for their state, for one another, and for everyone visiting Mississippi--a song that will draw all Mississippians together with love and respect for one another and for their state--a special song that is easy to sing with lyrics and melody suitable for all occasions, public and private, formal and informal; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi presently does not have an official BICENTENNIAL song that can be used for special occasions and specific events--a song with lyrics and melody that also lend themselves for Mississippians to sing at informal gatherings and by Mississippians individually as they go about their daily lives; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further desires to provide Mississippians with an official BICENTENNIAL song whereby Mississippians will have an official BICENTENNIAL 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 BICENTENNIAL 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 modified music of a 19th Century American folk song, are hereby designated as the official BICENTENNIAL song of the State of Mississippi. The lyrics of "My Home Mississippi" consist of five (5) verses and chorus, as follows:

MY HOME MISSISSIPPI

VERSE 1:

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!

VERSE 2:

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!

VERSE 3:

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!

VERSE 4:

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!

VERSE 5:

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!

CHORUS

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 and all other agencies of the state interested in promoting the welfare of the State of Mississippi are hereby encouraged to make use of the BICENTENNIAL 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 be codified as Section 3-3-57, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.