Thursday, January 7, 2010

Michigan, my Michigan 1886 (Bonus)


To the tune "Lauriger Horatius" a.k.a. "O Tannenbaum" a.k.a. "O Christmas Tree".
Chords:
D - - A7 B7 - / - Em - A7 - D / - - - A7 B7 - / - Em - A7 - D

D - G - Em - / - A7 - - D - / - - - A7 B7 - / - Em - A7 - D

Lyrics in a PDF from the Michigan government (aren't they helpful?) right here.

Land of my love, I sing of thee
Michigan, my Michigan
With lake-bound shore, I'm proud of thee
Michigan, my Michigan
The sweet winds whisper through thy pines
The jewels glitter in thy mines
And glory on thy chaplet shines -
Michigan, my Michigan

I've traveled all thy confines o'er
Michigan, my Michigan
From lake to lake, and shore to shore
Michigan, my Michigan
I've seen thy maimed, thy halt, thy blind
I've seen the ones bereft of mind
To all of them thou art so kind -
Michigan, my Michigan

Thou art so pure, but modest, too
Michigan, my Michigan
Thou art so brave and still so true
Michigan, my Michigan
No promise unfulfilled; - on trust
Thy noble sons have bit the dust
Remembered are they. For thou art just -
Michigan, my Michigan

The axe resounds 'mid woodland trees
Michigan, my Michigan
The sails of commerce court thy breeze
Michigan, my Michigan
And templed cities rise in sight
And happy eyes catch heaven's light
Our God protects thee through the night
Michigan, my Michigan

Oh! Alma Mater, at thy shrine
Michigan, my Michigan
I worship thee as most devine [sic]
Michigan, my Michigan
"Tuebor" "I'll protect," 'tis true -
Oh, fair peninsula! and you -
Shine out a gem in starry blue
Michigan, my Michigan

Thy diadem - thy hero sons
Michigan, my Michigan
Thy choicest love - their helpless ones
Michigan, my Michigan
And just as long as song shall ring
From those who bring an offering
To thee, my love, this song shall sing -
Michigan, my Michigan

To be perfectly accurate, "Lauriger Horatius is the name of the tune, while "O Tannenbaum" and "O Christmas Tree" are songs set to the tune "Lauriger Horatius".
What's Lauriger Horatius? Here are links to all you need to know, including Latin words and sheet music:
https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/4351
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/images/modeng/public/PaxHand/PaxHaf05.jpg

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