Ready Reference Files

California State Song

According to a San Francisco Chronicle article,

California's official state song, 'I Love You California'... has been the state's official ditty since 1948 when lawmakers approved an official resolution to that effect. But thanks to legislation signed into law last week by Governor Deukmajian, the song was raised to a higher status. Actually, despite that higher status, 'I Love You California' is officially an official state song because the state Senate refused to pass the bill unless the word 'the' was changed to 'an'. However, even as an official state song it remains the only official state song. Most Californians no doubt believe that the official state song is 'California Here I Come,' which is performed at nearly all political rallys by both parties. With its reference to 'open up your golden gates', the song has long been a sentimental favorite for San Franciscans. But despite the efforts of former Assemblyman John O'Connell ... and Assemblyman Dan Hauser ... lawmakers have refused to budge from the more staid 'I Love You California'.--San Francisco Chronicle, September 27, 1988, p. B 3.

California's official state song, "I Love You, California", was written by F.B. Silverwood, a Los Angeles merchant. The words were subsequently put to music by Alfred Frankenstein, a former conductor for the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. It was the official song of expositions held in San Francisco and San Diego in 1915, and was played aboard the first ship to go through the Panama Canal. In 1951, the State Legislature passed a resolution designating it as California's state song. During the years following, several attempts were made to make other songs such as "California, Here I Come" the official state song. Finally, in 1988, "I Love You, Califomia" became the official state song by law.

I Love You, California

First Verse
I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all.
I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore.
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

Chorus
Where the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o'er the valleys bloom,
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Every breeze bearing rich perfume.
It is here nature gives of her rarest. It is Home Sweet Home to me,
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.

Second Verse.
I love your red-wood forests - love your fields of yellow grain.
I love your summer breezes and I love your winter rain.
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine.
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.

Third Verse.
I love your old gray Missions - love your vineyards stretching far.
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar.
I love your purple sun-sets, love your skies of azure blue.
I love you, California; I just can't help loving you.

Fourth Verse.
I love you, Catalina, you are very dear to me.
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite.
I love you, Land of Sunshine, Half your beauties are untold.
I loved you in my childhood, and I'll love you when I'm old.

Source: California State Homepage. (http://www.ca.gov)

Verified by: GM, 4/98

Disclaimer:
While the Library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.