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Beautiful Ohio

Ohio State Song

The Ohio River; photo by Rob Ireton on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike).

Official State Song of Ohio

The Ohio Legislature adopted “Beautiful Ohio” as the official state song in 1969. Mary Earl (whose real name was Robert A. King), composed the music in 1918, and Ballard MacDonald wrote the original lyrics. In 1989 Wilbert B. McBride altered the lyrics (with permission from the Ohio Legislature).

Ohio also recognizes an official rock song. All State Songs

Lyrics to "Beautiful Ohio"

I sailed away;
Wandered afar;
Crossed the mighty restless sea;
Looked for where I ought to be.
Cities so grand, mountains above,
Led to this land I love.
 
CHORUS
 
Beautiful Ohio, where the golden grain
Dwarf the lovely flowers in the summer rain.
Cities rising high, silhouette the sky.
Freedom is supreme in this majestic land;
Mighty factories seem to hum in tune, so grand.
Beautiful Ohio, thy wonders are in view,
Land where my dreams all come true!
 
ORIGINAL CHORUS (as written by Ballard MacDonald)
 
Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream
While above the Heavens in their glory gleam
And the stars on high
Twinkle in the sky
Seeming in a paradise of love divine
Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine
Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see
Visions of what used to be.