"Maryland,
My Maryland"
![[Black and white portrait of James Ryder Randall]](images/song.gif) |
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James
Ryder Randall |
 Maryland!
My Maryland! in Broadsides
The nine-stanza
poem, "Maryland, My Maryland," was written by James
Ryder Randall in April 1861. Randall was a native of
Maryland, and was teaching in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the
early days of the Civil War. He was outraged at the news of
Union troops being marched through Baltimore. This poem
articulated Randall's Confederate sympathies and was set to the
traditional tune of "O, Tannenbaum". The
song achieved wide popularity in Maryland and throughout the
South and was eventually adopted as the State song in 1939.
I
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!
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II
Hark to an exiled son's appeal, Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel, Maryland!
For life or death, for woe or weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird they beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
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III
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!
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IV
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day, Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array, Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May, Maryland!
My Maryland!
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V
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And sing thy dauntless slogan song, Maryland!
My Maryland!
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VI
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain, Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
Sic semper! 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back amain, Maryland!
Arise in majesty again, Maryland! My
Maryland!
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VII
I see the blush upon thy cheek, Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek, Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to fill, from creek to creek,
Potomac calls to Chesapeake, Maryland! My
Maryland!
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VIII
Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control, Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the
shot, the blade, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the Soul, Maryland! My
Maryland!
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IX
I hear the distant thunder-hum, Maryland!
The Old Line bugle, fife, and drum, Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She burns! She'll come! She'll
come! Maryland! My Maryland!
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