South Carolina State Song

"Carolina"

Words by Henry Timrod
Music by Anne Custis Burgess
Edited by G. R. Goodwin

Adopted on February 11, 1911.

The song, "Carolina", words by poet Henry Timrod (1829-1867) and music by Anne Custis Burgess (1874-1910), was promoted by the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution. They petitioned the General Assembly to adopt it as South Carolina's official state song, that "Carolina" be made "legally the State Song." The General Assembly, on February 11, 1911, adopted Senator W.L. Mauldin's Concurrent Resolution that it "be accented and declared to be the State Song of South Carolina."

South Carolina State Song: "Carolina"

"Carolina"

Call on thy children of the hill,
Wake swamp and river, coast and rill,
Rouse all thy strength and all thy skill,
Carolina! Carolina!

Hold up the glories of thy dead;
Say how thy elder children bled,
And point to Eutaw's battle-bed,
Carolina! Carolina!

Thy skirts indeed the foe may part,
Thy robe be pierced with sword and dart,
They shall not touch thy noble heart,
Carolina! Carolina!
             
Throw thy bold banner to the breeze!
Front with thy ranks the threatening seas
Like thine own proud armorial trees,
Carolina! Carolina!

Girt with such wills to do and bear,
Assured in right, and mailed in prayer,
Thou wilt not bow thee to despair,
Carolina! Carolina!

Origin of Song: "Carolina"

Acting on the memorial of the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution that the patriotic song "Carolina," written by Henry Timrod, South Carolina's most beloved poet, set to music by Miss Anne Custis Burgess, be made "legally the State Song," the General Assembly, on February 11, 1911, adopted Senator W.L. Mauldin's Concurrent Resolution that it "be accented and declared to be the State Song of South Carolina."

Senator W. L. Mauldin's Senate Concurrent Resolution, to adopt "Carolina" as the state song, read in part:

Whereas, The Daughters of the American Revolution have memorialized the General Assembly to adopt as a State Song the beautiful poem written by the gifted Timrod, set to music by Miss Curtis, a daughter of South Carolina; therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the song "Carolina" be accepted as and declared to be the State Song of South Carolina.