Louisiana State Song

"Give Me Louisiana"

Written by Doralice Fontane
Composed by Dr. John Croom

Adopted in July 9, 1970; 1977.

The official state song for the State of Louisiana is, "Give Me Louisiana", wasa adopted in July 9, 1970; 1977.

Louisiana State Song: "Give Me Louisiana"

"Give Me Louisiana"

Give me Louisiana,
The state where I was born
The state of snowy cotton,
The best I've ever known;
A state of sweet magnolias,
And Creole melodies
Oh give me Louisiana,
The state where I was born
Oh what sweet old memories
The mossy old oaks bring
It brings us the story of our Evangeline
A state of old tradition,
of old plantation days
Makes good old Louisiana
The sweetest of all states.

Give me Louisiana,
A state prepared to share
That good old southern custom,
Hospitality so rare;
A state of fruit and flowers,
Of sunshine and spring showers
Oh give me Louisiana,
The state where I was born
Its woodlands, Its marshes
Where humble trappers live
Its rivers, Its valleys,
A place to always give
A state where work is pleasure,
With blessings in full measure
Makes good old Louisiana
The dearest of all states.

Give me Louisiana,
Where love birds always sing
In shady lanes or pastures,
The cowbells softly ring;
The softness of the sunset
Brings peace and blissful rest
Oh give me Louisiana,
The state where I was born
The smell of sweet clover
Which blossoms everywhere
The fresh new mown hay
Where children romp and play
A state of love and laughter,
A state for all here after
Makes good old Louisiana
The grandest of all states.

Origin of Song: "Give Me Louisiana"

Act 431 of 1970 and Act 540 of 1977: ...The official state song for the State of Louisiana shall be a musical composition, with words and music by Doralice Fontane, entitled: "Give Me Louisiana"...

Louisiana Laws

TITLE 49 - State administration
RS 49:155 - State song

Universal Citation: LA Rev Stat § 49:155

§155. State song

A. The official state song for the State of Louisiana shall be a musical composition, with words and music by Doralice Fontane, entitled: "Give Me Louisiana"; the words and music1 reading as follows:

Give me Louisiana,

The state where I was born

The state of snowy cotton,

The best I've ever known;

A state of sweet magnolias

And creole melodies

Oh give me Louisiana,

The state where I was born

Oh what sweet old mem'ries

The mossy old oaks bring

It brings us the story of our Evangeline

A state of old tradition,

Of old plantation days

Makes good old Louisiana

The sweetest of all states.

Give me Louisiana,

A state prepared to share

That good old southern custom,

Hospitality so rare;

A state of fruit and flowers,

Of sunshine and spring showers

Oh give me Louisiana,

The state where I was born

Its woodlands, Its marshes

Where humble trappers live

Its rivers, Its valleys,

A place to always give

A state where work is pleasure,

With blessings in full measure

Makes good old Louisiana

The dearest of all states.

Give me Louisiana,

Where love birds always sing

In shady lanes or pastures,

The cowbells softly ring;

The softness of the sunset

Brings peace and blissful rest

Oh give me Louisiana,

The state where I was born

The smell of sweet clover

Which blossoms ev'rywhere

The fresh new mown hay

Where children romp and play

A state of love and laughter,

A state for all here after

Makes good old Louisiana

The grandest of all states.

B. The official state song for the state of Louisiana shall also be the musical composition with words and music by Jimmy H. Davis and Charles Mitchell, entitled "You Are My Sunshine"; the words reading as follows:

Verses:

The other night, dear

As I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

When I awoke, dear

I was mistaken

And I hung my head and cried;

I'll always love you

And make you happy

If you will only say the same

But if you leave me

To love another

You'll regret it all some day;

You told me once, dear

You really loved me

And no one else could come between

But now you've left me

And love another

You have shattered all my dreams;

Louisiana my Louisiana

the place where I was borne.

White fields of cotton

--green fields of clover,

the best fishing

and long tall corn;

Crawfish gumbo and jambalaya

the biggest shrimp and sugar cane,

the finest oysters

and sweet strawberries

from Toledo Bend to New Orleans;

Chorus:

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Amended by Acts 1970, No. 431, §1; Acts 1977, No. 540, §1.

1On authority of R.S. 24:253, the music has been omitted from the Revised Statutes.