Delaware State Song

"Our Delaware"

Written by George B. Hynson
Composed by M. S. Brown

Adopted on April 07, 1925.

The song, "Our Delaware", words by George B. Hynson and music by Will M. S. Brown, was adopted as the official state song of Delaware on April 7, 1925 by an act of the General Assembly.  The fourth verse was written by Donn Devine in a 1960 competition authorized by the by the General Assembly to add a fourth statewide verse to the ones for each county.

Delaware State Song: "Our Delaware"

"Our Delaware"

Oh the hills of dear New Castle,
and the smiling vales between,
When the corn is all in tassel,
And the meadowlands are green;
Where the cattle crop the clover,
And its breath is in the air,
While the sun is shining over
Our beloved Delaware.

chorus

Where the wheat fields break and billow,
In the peaceful land of Kent,
Where the toiler seeks his pillow,
With the blessings of content;
Where the bloom that tints the peaches,
Cheeks of merry maidens share,
And the woodland chorus preaches
A rejoicing Delaware.

chorus

Dear old Sussex visions linger,
Of the holly and the pine,
Of Henlopens Jeweled finger,
Flashing out across the brine;
Of the gardens and the hedges,
And the welcome waiting there,
For the loyal son that pledges
Faith to good old Delaware.

chorus

From New Castle's rolling meadows,
Through the fair rich fields of Kent,
To the Sussex shores hear echoes,
Of the pledge we now present;
Liberty and Independence,
We will guard with loyal care,
And hold fast to freedom's presence,
In our home state Delaware.

chorus

Oh our Delaware! Our beloved Delaware!
For the sun is shining over our beloved Delaware,
Oh our Delaware! Our beloved Delaware!
Heres the loyal son that pledges,
Faith to good old Delaware.

Origin of Song: "Our Delaware"

The Delaware State Song started life as a poem. George Beswick Hynson published a number of works on stammering and stuttering, but he also wrote Our Delaware. It was published in 1906, and was set to music by Will. M.S. Brown, and published by Brown & Edwards of Wilmington, Delaware at 40c.

In 1925 it was adopted as the State Song, and an additional verse was grafted on for the 1976 bicentennial celebrations by Donn Devine, a member of the Delaware Bar. (thanks, Alexander - London, England)

The official state song consist of a poem "Our Delaware" containing three verses in honor of each county of the State, written by George B. Hynson; a fourth verse in praise of the State and pledging the loyalties of its citizens, written by Donn Devine; and a musical score composed specifically for the state song by Will M. S. Brown".

Delaware Law

Delaware General Code, Title 29, Chapter 3, Section 303.

Title 29,
Chapter 3,
Section 303.
§ 303. State song.
The official state song shall consist of the poem "Our Delaware" containing 3 verses, each verse in honor of a county of this State, written by George B. Hynson; a fourth verse in praise of the State and pledging the loyalties of its citizens, written by Donn Devine; and a musical score composed specifically for the state song by Will M. S. Brown.

REFER TO THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE

(34 Del. Laws, c. 253; Code 1935, § 2763; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 503; 61 Del. Laws, c. 45, § 1.)