Bill Text: WV HCR98 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designating "My Home Among the Hills" by E. W. James, an official state song
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-10)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-02 - To House Rules [HCR98 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HCR98-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 98
(By Delegates T. Campbell, Azinger, Brown, Butcher, D. Campbell, Cann, Canterbury, Cowles, Craig, Crosier, Diserio, Ellington, Evans, Ferns, Ferro, Fragale, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hartman, Hatfield, Iaquinta, Jones, Manypenny, Michael, Miley, Morgan, Nelson, Overington, Pethtel, R. Phillips, D. Poling, M. Poling, Poore, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Skaff, Smith, Stowers, Swartzmiller, Varner and Walker)
Designating “My Home Among the Hills” by E. W. James, an official state song.
Whereas, At this time, "The West Virginia Hills," "This is My West Virginia," and "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home" are the official state songs; and
Whereas, State songs have not been updated since last adopted in 1963; and
Whereas, "My Home Among the Hills" is well known to many West Virginians and is sung at many school ceremonies and functions; and
Whereas, The music was composed by West Virginia Wesleyan College trustee E. W. "Bill" James, who was also the mayor of Clarksburg from 1957 to 1961; and
Whereas, "My Home Among the Hills" comes from a larger work, "Out of the Whirlwind," that was written for the centennial celebration of the Statehood of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The words that follow "My Home Among the Hills" honor West Virginia in a magnificent manner:
"There's a land of rolling mountains where the sky is blue above.
And though I may roam, I hurry home, to those friendly hills I love.
Where moonlit meadows ring with the call of whippoorwills always you will find me in my home among the hills.
And where the sun draws rainbows in the mist of waterfalls and mountain rills my heart will be always in the West Virginia Hills. There, autumn hillsides are bright with scarlet trees and in the spring, the robins sing while apple blossoms whisper in the breeze.
And there is music in the flashing streams and joy in the fields of daffodils.
Laughter through the happy valleys of my home among the hills."
Whereas, "My Home Among the Hills" has found its way into some music method books for children; and
Whereas, The Chanticleer Children's Chorus of West Virginia and many high school choirs include it in their performances; and
Whereas, "My Home Among the Hills" is considered an unofficial state song and should be made official; and
Whereas, It is deemed desirable to add "My Home Among the Hills" as an official state song; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That “My Home Among the Hills” by E. W. James be designated an official state song; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is requested to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor.
