Arkansas (song) facts for kids
The song "Arkansas" was written by Eva Ware Barnett in 1916. It is one of the official state songs of Arkansas. This song was first chosen as the state song in the early 1900s. However, it was removed in 1949 because of a problem with its copyright.
A copyright means someone owns the rights to a song or book. If others want to use it, they might need permission or pay a fee. Arkansas solved the problem by buying all the rights to the song. After that, "Arkansas" was brought back as the state song in 1963.
What is the Arkansas State Anthem?
In 1987, the Arkansas General Assembly made "Arkansas" even more special. They changed its title to "state anthem." An anthem is a song that represents a group or a place. This change allowed two newer songs to also become official state songs. These songs are "Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)" and "Oh, Arkansas". Both were written for Arkansas's 150th birthday in 1986.
At the same time, another song called "The Arkansas Traveler" was named the "state historical song." This song had been the state song from 1949 to 1963.
How are State Songs Used Today?
A law from 1987 says that if someone asks for a copy of the "state song," the Secretary of State must give them "Arkansas." This was done to make sure the song's history was remembered.
Today, all four of these songs are either owned by the state of Arkansas or are in the public domain. Public domain means the copyright has ended, and anyone can use the song freely. The Secretary of State's website now shares the words to all four songs.
See Also
- List of U.S. state songs
- Symbols of Arkansas
