used and heretofore known as the Maryland State Song, has never been formally adopted and legalized by Maryland as a State, its use having been continued by common consent only; and
Whereas,, it is not only desirable but eminently fitting that this song, which has been in use for so many years, should be formally adopted and legalized as the Maryland State Song; therefore,
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That a new section be and the same is hereby added to Article 41 of the Code of Public General Laws of Maryland, the said new section to follow immediately after Section 33, to be placed under a new sub-title, reading “Maryland State Song”, to be known as Section 33A, and to read as follows:
33A. The poem composed by James Ryder Randall, in the year 1861, entitled “Maryland! My Maryland!”, heretofore and now sung to the tune of “Lauriger Horatius” and known as the Maryland State Song, is hereby adopted and legalized by the State of Maryland, as its State Song, the said song being in words as follows:
Maryland! My Maryland!
The despot’s heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Hark to an exiled son’s appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll’s sacred trust,
Remember Howard’s warlike thrust,—
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!
