# Oregon, My Oregon > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Oregon%2C_My_Oregon > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Oregon%2C_My_Oregon.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon%2C_My_Oregon > Source revision: 1353933306 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Anthem of the U.S. state of Oregon Oregon, My Oregon Sheet music with original lyrics Regional anthem of Oregon Lyrics John Andrew Buchanan, 1920 Music Henry Bernard Murtagh, 1920 (modified 2021) Adopted 1927 "**Oregon, My Oregon**" is the [regional anthem](/source/Regional_anthem) of the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [Oregon](/source/Oregon). Written for a song contest in 1920, the 16-line, 2-verse song became the state's official state song in 1927. The lyrics, widely considered to convey racist sentiments, were updated by an act of the [Oregon Legislature](/source/Oregon_Legislature) in 2021.[1] ## History In 1920, the Society of Oregon Composers held a competition to select a state song for Oregon.[2][3] The winning entry, "Oregon, My Oregon," was a collaboration between [John Andrew Buchanan](/source/John_Andrew_Buchanan), who wrote the lyrics, and [Henry Bernard Murtagh](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Henry_Bernard_Murtagh&action=edit&redlink=1), who composed the music.[3] Buchanan was an amateur lyricist who was an [Astoria](/source/Astoria%2C_Oregon) city judge,[3] while Murtagh was a professional musician with a [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) credit,[4] but who was best known as a professionally trained [theatre organist](/source/Theatre_organ) on the [West Coast](/source/West_Coast_of_the_United_States) during the [silent movie](/source/Silent_movie) era.[3][5][6][7][8] Following the song's selection, the Society promoted the song by conducting performances at public gathering spaces around the state and at schools and universities (the state [Superintendent of Public Instruction](/source/Oregon_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction) had endorsed the song).[3] On February 12, 1927, the song was officially adopted as the state song by a joint resolution of the [Oregon State Legislature](/source/Oregon_State_Legislature).[9] In 2009, legislator [Gene Whisnant](/source/Gene_Whisnant) proposed choosing a new official state song.[10][11] In 2017, a bill proposed in the [Oregon Legislative Assembly](/source/Oregon_Legislative_Assembly) sought to update the song's lyrics, "to reflect cultural, historical, economic and societal evolution" of the state.[12] ## Description Buchanan's lyrics contain two main themes: honoring the early settlers and pioneers of Oregon, and praise for the natural beauty of the state. Murtagh composed the song as a [march](/source/March_(music)) in [F major](/source/F_major). Unlike two other similarly named state songsβ€”"[Maryland, My Maryland](/source/Maryland%2C_My_Maryland)" and "[Michigan, My Michigan](/source/Michigan%2C_My_Michigan)"β€”"Oregon, My Oregon" is not set to the tune of "[O Tannenbaum](/source/O_Tannenbaum)." On June 6, 2021, the [Oregon Legislature](/source/Oregon_Legislative_Assembly) approved changes to the lyrics of Oregon's state song.[13][14] Amy Donna Shapiro, an Oregonian, replaced "Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West; Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the Best" in the first verse with "Land of Majestic Mountains, Land of the Great Northwest; Forests and rolling rivers, Grandest and the best", and "Blest by the blood of martyrs" in the second verse with "Blessed by the love of freedom".[13] ### Lyrics Sources:[13][14] Original New (2021 – present) Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West; Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the Best Onward and upward ever, Forward and on, and on; 𝄆 Hail to thee, Land of Heroes, My Oregon. 𝄇 Land of the rose and sunshine Land of the summer's breeze; Laden with health and vigor, Fresh from the Western seas. Blessed by the blood of martyrs, Land of the setting sun; 𝄆 Hail to thee, Land of Promise, My Oregon. 𝄇 Land of Majestic Mountains, Land of the Great Northwest; Forests and rolling rivers, Grandest and the best Onward and upward ever, Forward and on, and on; 𝄆 Hail to thee, Land of Heroes, My Oregon. 𝄇 Land of the rose and sunshine Land of the summer's breeze; Laden with health and vigor, Fresh from the Western seas. Blessed by the love of freedom, Land of the setting sun; 𝄆 Hail to thee, Land of Promise, My Oregon. 𝄇 ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Wong, Peter (June 7, 2021). ["State song gets official makeover from Oregon lawmakers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220219163218/https://pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/512306-408899-state-song-gets-official-makeover-from-oregon-lawmakers). *[Portland Tribune](/source/Portland_Tribune)*. Archived from [the original](https://pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/512306-408899-state-song-gets-official-makeover-from-oregon-lawmakers) on February 19, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-bluebook_2-0)** ["Oregon Almanac:State Song"](https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/explore/focus-song.aspx). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ohp_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ohp_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ohp_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ohp_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ohp_3-4) ["Sheet Music Cover, Oregon, My Oregon"](http://oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/sheet-music-cover-oregon-my-oregon/). *Oregon History Project*. [Oregon Historical Society](/source/Oregon_Historical_Society). Retrieved 2016-06-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-ibdb_4-0)** ["Henry B. Murtagh"](http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=453970). Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-pstos1_5-0)** ["Liberty Theatre, Portland, Oregon"](http://www.pstos.org/instruments/or/portland/liberty.htm). Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-pstos2_6-0)** ["Liberty Theatre, Seattle"](http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/seattle/liberty.htm). Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-cor_7-0)** Buhrman, T. Scott. [*New York and the Cinema*](http://www.theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Journal/NewYork.htm). Published in 'The Complete Organ Recitalist', ed. Herbert Westerby, London, 1927, pp. 347–354. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-na_8-0)** ["Oregon State Song"](http://www.national-anthems.org/anthems/naw_id/SSA-037). national-anthems.org. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-ns_9-0)** ["Oregon State Song"](http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/song/or_my_or.htm). NetState.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Steves, David (May 7, 2009). ["Oregon unlikely to be singing a new song anytime soon | Main News | Eugene, Oregon"](http://special.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/13262687-55/story.csp). *[The Register-Guard](/source/The_Register-Guard)*. Retrieved 2019-02-07. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["State Song Idea Off-Key: Let's Stick with 'Oregon, My Oregon' (editorial)"](http://projects.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/opinion/13366026-46/story.csp). *[The Register-Guard](/source/The_Register-Guard)*. May 10, 2009. Retrieved 2019-02-07. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["HCR20, 2017 Regular Session"](https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2017R1/Measures/Overview/HCR20). *Oregon Legislative Assembly*. Retrieved 2019-02-07. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HCR11_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HCR11_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HCR11_13-2) ["House Concurrent Resolution 11"](https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HCR11/Introduced). *Oregon State Legislature*. 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-oreg-2021jun7_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-oreg-2021jun7_14-1) Swindler, Samantha (June 7, 2021). ["Oregon state song gets new lyrics without racist language"](https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/06/oregon-state-song-gets-new-lyrics-without-racist-language.html). *[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210610104539/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/06/oregon-state-song-gets-new-lyrics-without-racist-language.html) from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-10. ## External links - Media related to ["Oregon, My Oregon"](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Oregon,_My_Oregon) at Wikimedia Commons - The full text of ["Oregon, My Oregon"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Oregon,_My_Oregon) at Wikisource v t e National and regional anthems of North America Sovereign states Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States Regions British West Indies Anguilla Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Montserrat Turks and Caicos Islands Canada Alberta Newfoundland and Labrador Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Dutch Caribbean Aruba Bonaire CuraΓ§ao Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten French West Indies Guadeloupe Martinique Saint-BarthΓ©lemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Kingdom of Denmark Greenland Mexico Aguascalientes Baja California & Baja California Sur Chiapas Coahuila Oaxaca Tlaxcala YucatΓ‘n Zacatecas United States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Rocky Mountain High Where the Columbines Grow Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Give Me Louisiana You Are My Sunshine Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico Bilingual English Spanish New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Hills Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina Carolina South Carolina on My Mind South Dakota Tennessee My Homeland, Tennessee Tennessee Waltz Rocky Top Tennessee Smoky Mountain Rain Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Take Me Home, Country Roads The West Virginia Hills Wisconsin Wyoming Former Alaska (1833–1867) Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1839) Confederate States (1861–1865) Confederate States (1861–1865) Grenada (1967–1974) Haiti (1893–1903) Maryland (United States) (1937–2021) Netherlands Antilles (2000–2010) Nicaragua (1876–1889) Nicaragua (1889–1893) Nicaragua (1893–1910) United States (1789–1931) United States (1831–1931) Virginia (United States) (1940–1997) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Oregon, My Oregon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon%2C_My_Oregon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon%2C_My_Oregon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.