North Carolina State Song

"The Old North State"

Lyrics: William Joseph Gaston

Music: Ora Huffman Randolph

Adoption: 1927

HISTORY

William Joseph Gaston, a jurist and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, wrote the lyrics to "The Old North State" in 1835, when North Carolina was one of the country’s poorest states with a rapidly emigrating population. Set to a preexisting tune, it gained popularity throughout the state during the presidential campaign of 1840. In 1926, Ora Huffman Randolph, the wife of a professor of chemical engineering at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University), composed and arranged new music for the song. The North Carolina General Assembly adopted "The Old North State" as the state song in 1927.  -World Trade Press

LYRICS

"The Old North State"

Carolina! Heaven's blessings attend her!
While we live we will cherish, protect, and defend her;
Tho' the scorner may sneer at and witlings defame her,
Still our hearts swell with gladness whenever we name her.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Tho' she envies not others, their merited glory,
Say whose name stands the foremost, in Liberty's story,
Tho' too true to herself e'er to crouch to oppression,
Who can yield to just rule a more loyal submission?

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Plain and artless her sons, but whose doors open faster
At the knock of a stranger, or the tale of disaster.
How like the rudeness of the dear native mountains,
With rich ore in their bosoms and life in their fountains.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

And her daughters, the Queen or the forest resembling
So graceful, so constant, yet the gentlest breath trembling.
And true lightwood at heart, let the match be applied them,
How they kindle and flame! Oh! none know but who've tried them.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Then let all those who love us, love the land that we live in,
As happy a region as on this side of heaven,
Where plenty and peace, love and joy smile before us,
Raise aloud, raise together the heart thrilling chorus.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!