Utah, We Love Thee

Utah, we Love Thee By Edward H. Anderson The Legislative Assembly of the State of Utah adopted early in February, 1917, Professor Evan Stephens' "Utah, We Love Thee," as the official song of the State of Utah. It is twen- ty-one years since Utah entered the Union of states, and this song was especially composed for the inaugural exercises in the Salt Lake Tabernacle which signalized the admission of the state of Utah into the Un- ion, January 6, 1896. At' that time the au- thor directed a chorus of one thousand voices, in the singing. Professor Stephens met the writer of this note on the 10th of Feb- ruary, last, and on being questioned as to his health, he said he was particularly happy that day, as he was just on his way to the capitol to witness the proceedings and hear the adoption of his "Utah, We Love Thee" as the official song of the state. He said that the idea of this song came to him as far back as 1893 when, it will be remembered, the Tabernacle choir Avas on its way to the Worlds' Fair, in Chicago. It then dawned on him that Utah had no song of her own, nor even one that could be sung in her favor at the exposition. On his return he began the composition of the words and music which were adopted by the late legislature as Utah's official hymn. After the state inaugural exercises, held in the Tabernacle, at which many thousands of people heard the composition, it became popular in all public audiences, and was sung not only in the public schools, Sunday schools, and other Evan Stephens in his younger days

768 IMPROVEMENT ERA gatherings of the children of the state, but in many private homes and organizations. Professor Stephens thinks it partic- ularly significant that his song should have had the additional honor which it received, practically at the time of attaining its majority — twenty-one years since it was first sung. Both the Ogden and Salt Lake Tabernacle choirs, on their various trips east and west to a number of National expositions, have sung the new state anthem; and when the silver service, donated by the state, to the United States battleship Utah, was presented in New York harbor, in the presence of nearly two thousand people from this state besides many national officials, it was also sung by the latter choir, this time on the deck of the battleship. For that occasion the author had written two special stanzas as fol- lows: Queen of the ocean wave, Utah, we love thee. Mann'd by the true and brave, Utah, we love thee. Unconquer'd may'st thou ride Long o'er the restless tide, Our country's joy and pride, Utah, we love thee. Guard well the land we love, Utah, we love thee. A friend to freedom prove, Utah, we love thee. Our nation's fame increase, Bid all oppression cease, Aid universal peace, Utah, we love thee. The text of the resolution adopted by the legislature as it appeared in the press at the time is as follows: "Whereas, it is fitting and proper that a state should select and officially recognize an appropriate state song; and "Whereas, the people of Utah are especially favored with patriotic songs which have been produced by both the native and adopted sons and daugh- ters of the state ; and "Whereas, it is universally recognized that the song, by Evan Stephens, entitled, "Utah, we Love Thee" possesses the supreme merits of a peoples' song; and "Whereas, its author and composer is the most venerated and dis- tinguished of Utah's splendid array of poet-musicians; and "Whereas, this song has historical significance in that it was composed especially for the festival held on the 6th day of January, 1896, in celebration of the admission of Utah into the Union, on which occasion it was sung by a chorus of one thousand children under the direction of its author and composer; and "Whereas, the author has graciously consented to dedicate this song to the people of this commmonwealth as an evidence of his affection and

UTAH, WE LOVE THEE 769 patriotism towards the state of his adoption and life-long residence and ac- tivities ; "Now, therefore, it is hereby resolved that the song, 'Utah we Love Thee,' is hereby recognized and designated as the official state song of the State of Utah, and that the gratitude of the State of Utah is hereby expressed to Prof. Evan Stephens for his praiseworthy production and generous gift. "It is further resolved that this resolution and the text of the song be entered in the Senate Journal." Then the song was sung by a quartet composed of James Moncar, Hyrum J. Christensen, David Burt and Walter Lamoreaux. Senator Frank Evans, representing Salt Lake county, ad- dressed the senate in support of the resolution in the following words : "The late Orlando W. Powers, in describing the song, 'Utah, We Love Thee,' said: 'Its text is music, its music breathes the text. So perfectly wedded are the two that neither could be mated to another poem or another music, nor be made to say any other thing than, 'Utah, We Love Thee!' "The combination of occasion and genius produced this song — the oc- casion, the great festival held in the Salt Lake tabernacle on the 6th day of January, 1896, immediately following the proclamation of the president of the United States by which Utah was admitted into the Union — the genius, Evan Stephens who, as poet-musician, stands as Utah's most illustrious son. "The occasion marked the culmination of long years of effort upon the part of Utah's leading men and women — of sacrifice, contention, bitter strife and suffering upon the part of her people. For Utah more than for any other state in the Union, admission to statehood marked the dawn of a new and better day. "The spirit and significance of the occasion found their best expression in his song. He was a man then of mature years, having grown with the state, personally experiencing the development of its history, enjoying the acquaintance of all its leading citizens, and coming in direct contact with all classes of its people, old and young, cheering and inspiring them with his anthems and his poetry — this man of all others could sense and feel the full significance of the recognition by the United States of America of his beloved state and her people. "What more could be felt, or what less, than that which he has ex- pressed by the words and by the music of this song? What more or what less could by any genius have been expressed? 'It has all the points of supreme merit for a people's song — the fire of enthusiastic inspiration, brevity and directness of text and music, dignity without pretentiousness.' "This song has been sung in every hamlet in this commonwealth. First heard upon Utah's natal day, when rendered by one thousand school children under the direction of its author and composer, it has from that time to this been sung by hundreds of thousands. It has been carried to the east and to the west by our great choirs. It was sung on the battleship Utah, at its christening, and the marine band of this great man-of-war has taken it to many foreign lands. "No act of ours can either add to or detract from the merits of this composition. It has established its own place and its author has done likewise. We as representatives of the state are no doubt tardy in our recog- nition, but I am sure it is none the less earnest — none the less sincere."