Wisconsin State Song

"On, Wisconsin" Official State Song "On, Wisconsin" Lyrics: Charles D. Rosa and J. S. Hubbard Music: William T. Purdy Adoption: 1959 Official State Ballad "Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams" Lyrics: Erma Howland Barrett Music: Shari Sarazin Adoption: 2001 Official State Waltz "The Wisconsin Waltz" Lyrics: Eddie Hansen Music: Eddie Hansen Adoption: 2001 History "On, Wisconsin" is a football fight song composed by William Purdy in 1909 and dedicated to the University of Wisconsin football team. Carl Beck co-wrote lyrics for the song with Purdy, and the rhythmic and rousing ditty became very popular among students. In 1913, Judge Charles Rosa and Mr. Hubbard were inspired to write new, more earnest lyrics. This made the song even more popular, but it was still not officially recognized as the state song until 1959. In 1993 Shari Sarazin set a sweet melody to a ballad written by her grandmother Erma Howland Barrett, and the resulting song, "Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams," became Wisconsin's official state ballad in 2001. In addition to these two songs, the state also adopted an official waltz in the same year, "The Wisconsin Waltz," by Waupaca native Eddie Hansen. Lyrics "On, Wisconsin" On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Grand old Badger State! We, your loyal sons and daughters, Hail thee, good and great. On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Champion of the right, "Forward", our motto, God will give thee might! "Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams" Oh Wisconsin, land of beauty, with your hillsides and your plains, with your jackpine and your birch tree, and your oak of mighty frame. Land of rivers, lakes and valleys, land of warmth and winter snows, land of birds and beasts and humanity, oh Wisconsin, I love you so. Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. Oh Wisconsin, you're all I'll ever need. A little heaven here on earth could you be? Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. In the summer, golden grain fields; in the winter, drift of white snow; in the springtime, robins singing; in the autumn, flaming colors show. Oh I wonder who could wander, or who could want to drift for long, away from all your beauty, all your sunshine, all your sweet song? Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. Oh Wisconsin, you're all I'll ever need. A little heaven here on earth could you be? Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. And when it's time, let my spirit run free in Wisconsin, land of my dreams. "The Wisconsin Waltz" Music from heaven throughout the years; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz Favorite song of the pioneers; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. Song of my heart on that last final day, When it is time to lay me away. One thing I ask is to let them play The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. My sweetheart, my complete heart, It’s for you when we dance together; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. I remember that September, Before love turned into an ember, We danced to the Wisconsin Waltz. Summer ended, we intended that our lives then would both be blended, But somehow our planning got lost. Memory now sings a dream song, a faded love theme song; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MZyeh7n5D0