Oregon, My Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oregon, My Oregon

Regional anthem of	Oregon
Adopted	1927

"Oregon, My Oregon" is the official song of the U.S. state of Oregon. It's like a special song for the whole state! This song has 16 lines and two verses. It was first written for a contest in 1920. Later, in 1927, it officially became Oregon's state song.

Over time, some of the original words in the song were seen as unfair or not fitting for everyone in Oregon. Because of this, the Oregon Legislature (which is like Oregon's law-making group) voted to change the lyrics in 2021.

How Oregon's State Song Was Chosen

In 1920, a group called the Society of Oregon Composers held a special contest. They wanted to find a new song that would represent the state of Oregon. The song "Oregon, My Oregon" won this contest!

Two people worked together to create the winning song. John Andrew Buchanan wrote the words, also called the lyrics. Henry Bernard Murtagh created the music. Buchanan was a city judge in Astoria and enjoyed writing songs as a hobby. Murtagh was a professional musician. He was well-known for playing the theatre organ for silent movies on the West Coast.

After the song won, the Society of Oregon Composers helped make it famous. They arranged for the song to be performed in many public places. People sang it at schools and universities all over Oregon. The state's top education official, the Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction, even supported the song.

On February 12, 1927, the song officially became Oregon's state song. This happened through a special decision by the Oregon State Legislature.

Why the Lyrics Changed

The original words of "Oregon, My Oregon" had two main ideas. They honored the early settlers and pioneers who came to Oregon. They also praised the state's beautiful nature. Henry Bernard Murtagh composed the music as a march.

In 2009, a lawmaker named Gene Whisnant suggested choosing a new state song. Then, in 2017, a new idea came up in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. This idea was to update the song's lyrics. The goal was to make the words better reflect Oregon's modern culture, history, economy, and society.

On June 6, 2021, the Oregon Legislature approved changes to the song's lyrics. An Oregonian named Amy Donna Shapiro helped write the new words.

For example, the old first verse said: "Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West; Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the Best"

The new words for that part are: "Land of Majestic Mountains, Land of the Great Northwest; Forests and rolling rivers, Grandest and the best"

Also, in the second verse, "Blest by the blood of martyrs" was changed to "Blessed by the love of freedom." These changes made the song more inclusive for everyone in Oregon.

Comparing the Lyrics

Here you can see how the old lyrics compare to the new ones: