Grand State Of Maine

Album: State Songs (1939)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Grand State Of Maine" is the Official State Song of the, er, Grand State of Maine! It was written by Roger Vinton Snow (1890-1952) - who was a lawyer rather than a musician by profession - and was adopted as the State Song in 1939.
    The song itself is similar in content to the Welsh National Anthem "Land Of My Fathers" but obviously not as moving lyrically, because there was an attempt by a State legislator to have it replaced. What happened next was related by Roger Vinton Snow Junior in a 1999 interview with two researchers from Bates College:

    "When I was in the Senate, somebody in the House didn't like the State of Maine Song and thought we should have a different State of Maine Song. So there was a bill introduced to do something about a new State of Maine Song. And Herbert Payson, Charles' brother, was in the House when I was in the senate. He was a Republican and I was Democrat. He said, 'Did you see this bill, Roger?' I says, 'No.' And he says, 'Well.' I says, 'I can't go; I've got, to the hearing. Would you go?' And he went and he got up and said, 'Did you know that the father of the chairman of the Education Committee wrote this song?' And the sponsor dropped his bill. That was all that was necessary; an exercise of power. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."