North Carolina State Toast

"A Toast" to North Carolina

Written by Leonora Martin and Mary Burke Kerr

Adopted in 1957.

In 1957 the North Carolina General Assembly officially adopted a poem, "A Toast" to North Carolina, written by Leonora Martin and Mary Burke Kerr in 1904, as the official toast to the state (Session Laws, 1957, c.777).

North Carolina State Toast:
"A Toast" to North Carolina

"A Toast" to North Carolina

The following toast was officially adopted as the State Toast of North Carolina by the General Assembly of 1957. (Session Laws, 1957, c. 777).

Here's to the land of the long leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!

Here's to the land of the cotton bloom white,
Where the scuppernong perfumes the breeze at night,
Where the soft southern moss and jessamine mate,
'Neath the murmuring pines of the Old North State!

Here's to the land where the galax grows,
Where the rhododendron's rosette glows,
Where soars Mount Mitchell's summit great,
In the "Land of the Sky," in the Old North State!

Here's to the land where maidens are fair,
Where friends are true and cold hearts rare,
The near land, the dear land, whatever fate,
The blest land, the best land, the Old North State!

Origin: "'A Toast' to North Carolina"

North Carolina Law

The law designating the song referred to as "A Toast" to North Carolina as the official North Carolina state toast is found in the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 145 Section 149-2.

CHAPTER 149. STATE SONG AND TOAST
SECTION 1

§ 149-2. A Toast to North Carolina. The song referred to as "A Toast" to North Carolina is hereby adopted and declared to be the official toast to the State of North Carolina, said toast being in words as follows:

Here's to the land of the long leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!

Here's to the land of the cotton bloom white,
Where the scuppernong perfumes the breeze at night,
Where the soft southern moss and jessamine mate,
'Neath the murmuring pines of the Old North State!

Here's to the land where the galax grows,
Where the rhododendron's rosette glows,
Where soars Mount Mitchell's summit great,
In the "Land of the Sky," in the Old North State!

Here's to the land where maidens are fair,
Where friends are true and cold hearts rare,
The near land, the dear land, whatever fate,
The blest land, the best land, the Old North State!

(1957, c. 777.)