Arizona State Song: Anthem

"Arizona March Song"

Written by Margaret Rowe Clifford
Music by Maurice Blumenthal

Adopted on February 28, 1919.

The "Arizona March Song" is the state song (Anthem) of Arizona. "Arizona's State Anthem," as it was designated, was adopted by the Fourth Arizona State Legislature and became law on February 28, 1919 without Governor Thomas Campbell's signature.

Arizona State Song: Anthem: "Arizona March Song"

"Arizona March Song"

Come to this land of sunshine
To this land where life is young.
Where the wide, wide world is waiting,
The songs that will now be sung.
Where the golden sun is flaming
Into warm, white shining day,
And the sons of men are blazing
Their priceless right of way.

Chorus:

Come stand beside the rivers
Within our valley broad.
Stand here with heads uncovered,
In the presence of our God!
While all around, about us
The brave, unconquered band,
As guardians and landmarks
The giant mountains stand.

Chorus:

Not alone for gold and silver
Is Arizona great.
But with graves of heroes sleeping,
All the land is consecrate!
O, come and live beside us
However far ye roam
Come and help us build up temples
And name those temples "home."

Chorus:

CHORUS:

Sing the song that's in your hearts
Sing of the great Southwest,
Thank God, for Arizona
In splendid sunshine dressed.
For thy beauty and thy grandeur,
For thy regal robes so sheen
We hail thee Arizona
Our Goddess and our queen.

Origin of Songs: "Arizona March Song"

This song, titled Arizona, was written in 1915 by Margaret Rowe Clifford (1841-1926) and published by the Hatch Music Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in Quebec, Canada, Mrs. Clifford move to Arizona in 1896. She was a teacher and was known for her poetry, published in a number of the local papers of Cochise Coun

The Arizona State Anthem was adopted February 28, 1919 by the Fourth State Legislature. The "Arizona March Song" as the anthem was titled, was written by Margaret Rowe Clifford with music composed by Maurice Blumenthal.

More than 60 years later, the Arizona Legislature named Arizona, a song written and performed by Rex Allen, Jr. as an alternate state anthem. Rex Allen Jr. and father Rex Allen, natives of Willcox, are known world-wide for their famous renditions of cowboy songs.

Today, the song is most often referred to as the "Arizona March Song." On the other hand, as can be seen below, the song adopted with the approval of House Bill No. 15 is clearly titled "Arizona."

Arizona House Bill 15

CHAPTER 28
(House Bill No. 15.)
AN ACT

To provide for the Adoption of a State Anthem Together With the Words and Music of Same, and to provide for the Production, Publication and Distribution of said Anthem, and to Acquire the Copyright in said Anthem, Words and Music to the State of Arizona and Making an Appropriation Therefor.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. That there is hereby adopted one certain march song, entitled "Arizona," words by Margaret Rowe Clifford, Copyright 1915, and music by Maurice Blumenthal, said words and music to be designated as "Arizona's State Anthem," which are as follows:

Come to this land of sunshine
To this land where life is young.
Where the wide, wide world is waiting,
The songs that will now be sung.
Where the golden sun is flaming
Into warm, white, shining day,
And the sons of men are blazing
Their priceless right of way.

Chorus:
Sing the song that's in your hearts;
Sing of the great Southwest.
Thank God, for Arizona
In splendid sunshine dressed,
For thy beauty and thy grandeur,
For thy regal robes so sheen.
We hail thee, Arizona,—
Our Goddess and our Queen.

----------

Come, stand beside the rivers
Within our valleys broad
Stand here with heads uncovered,
In the presence of our God!
While all around about us,
The brave, unconquered band
As guardians and landmarks,
The giant mountains stand.

----------

Chorus:

----------

Not alone for gold and silver
Is Arizona great;
But with graves of heroes sleeping,
All the land is consecrate!
O, come and live beside us
However far ye roam
Come, help us build up temples
And name those temples "Homes."

----------

Chorus:

----------

Section 2. The copyright to the composition is designated in Section 1, of the act, insofar as relates to the production of said composition for public purposes, is and shall be, in and to the State of Arizona. It shall be the duty of the Commission of State Institutions to purchase and acquire an electrotype plate in the form of said composition and music, and to have produced sufficient copies and to furnish all schools and public institutions, and the Battleship Arizona with copies of said composition.

Section 3. There is hereby appropriated out of any money in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated for the purpose of acquiring said copyright in the State of Arizona, the sum of $250.00, and there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $350.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the purpose of production, publication and distribution of said anthem as provided by this act.

Section 4. The State Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to draw his warrants upon the fund above appropriated, and the State Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay such warrant.

Section 5. All acts and part of acts in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

"This bill having remained with the Governor five days, Sundays excluded, and the Legislature being in session, it became law on the twenty-eighth day of February, A. D., 1919."

(Signed) MIT SIMMS.
Secretary of State

Copyright

Note title: "Arizona; march song"

Arizona; march song, words by M. R.
Clifford, music by Maurice Blumenthal,
of U. S. ; piano ace. arr. by Ray
Stuart, of U. S. [4708
? Mar. 24, 1915; 2 c. Mar. 25,
1935; E 359551; Margaret Rowe
Clifford, Douglas, Ariz.