My Homeland, Tennessee facts for kids

"My Homeland, Tennessee," is one of Tennessee's ten official state songs. It was written by two talented people: Roy Lamont Smith and Nell Grayson Taylor. This song became an official state symbol in 1925.

My Homeland, Tennessee: A Special State Song

"My Homeland, Tennessee" is a very important song for the state of Tennessee. It was the first of ten songs to be named an official state song. This means it represents Tennessee in a special way, much like a state flag or state bird.

Who Wrote This Song?

The words, or lyrics, of "My Homeland, Tennessee" were written by Nell Grayson Taylor. She was a poet who had published her work before. She also served as a nurse during World War I, helping soldiers.

The music for the song was created by Roy Lamont Smith. He was a music teacher at the Cadek Conservatory of Music. This school is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Together, Taylor and Smith combined their talents to create this patriotic song.

How "My Homeland, Tennessee" Became a State Song

The song "My Homeland, Tennessee" was created for a special contest. The contest was looking for a patriotic song that would celebrate the state of Tennessee. A patriotic song is one that shows love and loyalty for one's country or state.

Taylor and Smith entered their song into this contest. Their song won! Because it won, the Tennessee State Legislature decided to make it an official state song. The State Legislature is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state. They officially adopted "My Homeland, Tennessee" in 1925. This made it a permanent symbol of the state.

You can listen to the Nashville Children's Choir singing "My Homeland, Tennessee" here: The Nashville Children's Choir singing "My Homeland, Tennessee"