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State Songs        

* Carolina On My Mind *

"South Carolina on My Mind" created, sung and recorded by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge, native South Carolinians, was designated by Act No. 302, 1984, as an official State Song.

*playing now*

Below are the lyrics.

* Carolina *

" Carolina" Written by Henry Timrod, South Carolina's most beloved poet, set to music by Miss Anne Curtis Burgess.

*   The General Assembly, on February 11, 1911, adopted Senator W. L. Mauldin's Concurrent Resolution that it "be accented and declared to be the State Song of South Carolina."

THE STATE SONG
"Carolina on my Mind"

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina  
Can't you see the sunshine  
Can't you just feel the moonshine  
Maybe just like a friend of mine  
It hit me from behind  
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind  

Karen she's a silver sun  
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'  
Watch her watch the mornin' come  
A silver tear appearing now I'm cryin'  
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind  

There ain't no doubt it no ones mind  
That loves the finest thing around  
Whisper something warm and kind  
And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm Dyin'  
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind  
  
 
  
In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina  
Can't you see the sunshine  
Can't you just feel the moonshine  
Maybe just like a friend of mine  
It hit me from behind  
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind  
Dark and silent last last night  
I think I might have heard the highway calling  
Geese in flight and dogs that bite  
Signs that might be omens say I going, going  
I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind  

With a holy host of others standing 'round me  
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon  
And it seems like it goes on like this forever  
You must forgive me  
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind  

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina  
Can't you see the sunshine  
Can't you just feel the moonshine  
Maybe just like a friend of mine  
It hit me from behind  
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind 

"Carolina"

The despot treads thy sacred sands, Thy pines give shelter to his bands, They sons stand by with idle hands, Carolina!

He breathes at ease thy airs of balm, He scorns the lances of thy palm; Oh! who shall break thy craven calm, Carolina!

 Thy ancient fame is growing dim, A spot is on thy garment's rim; Give to the winds thy battle hymn, Carolina!

 Call on thy children of the hill, Wake swamp and river, coast and rill, Rouse all thy strength and all thy skill, Carolina!

 Cite wealth and science, trade and art, Touch with thy fire the cautious mart, And pour thee through the people's heart, Carolina!

Till even the coward spurns his fears, And all thy fields and fens and meres Shall bristle like thy palm with spears, Carolina!

 Hold up the glories of thy dead; Say how thy elder children bled, And point to Eutaw;s battle-bed, Carolina!

Tell how the patriot's soul was tried, And what his dauntless breast defied; How Rutledge ruled and Laurens died, Carolina!

Cry! till thy summons heard at last, Shall fall like Marion's bugle-blast Re-echoed from the haunted Past, Carolina!

I hear a murmur as of waves That grope their way through sunless caves, Like bodies struggling in their graves, Carolina!

And now it deepens; slow and grand It swells, as, rolling to the land, An ocean broke upon thy strand, Carolina!

 They will not wait to hear thee call; From Sachem's Head to Sumter's wall Resounds the voice of hut and hall, Carolina!

 No! thou hast not a stain, they say, Or none save what the battle-day Shall wash in seas of blood away, Carolina!

Thy skirts indeed the foe may part, Thy robe be pierced with sword and dart, They shall not touch thy noble heart, Carolina!

 Ere thou shalt own the tyrant's thrall Ten times ten thousand men must fall; Thy corpse may hearken to his call, Carolina!

 When, by thy bier, in mournful throngs The women chant thy mortal wrongs, 'T will be their own funereal songs, Carolina!

 From thy dead breast by ruffians trod No helpless child shall look to God; All shall be safe beneath thy sod, Carolina!

Girt with such wills to do and bear, Assured in right, and mailed in prayer, Thou wilt not bow thee to despair, Carolina!

Throw thy bold banner to the breeze! Front with thy ranks the threatening seas Like thine own proud armorial trees, Carolina!

Fling down thy gauntlet to the Huns, And roar the challenge from thy guns; Then leave the future to thy sons, Carolina!