Just as Kentucky Derby opens with ‘My Old Kentucky Home,’ the Preakness Stakes begins with a rendition of ‘Maryland, My Maryland.’
The state song of Maryland, “Maryland, My Maryland,” is traditionally sung before the beginning of the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing, usually by the U.S. Naval Glee Clubs.
Typically, the choir sings the third verse of the song, which goes like this:
"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!"
As you will no doubt notice in the video below, “Maryland, My Maryland” is sung to the tune of “Oh, Tannenbaum” — alternatively, “Oh, Christmas Tree.”
The full, nine verse version of the state song of Maryland is pretty wild. Here are the lyrics, according to the Maryland government website.
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!
II
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!
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!
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!
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 chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!
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 again,
Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!
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 hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!
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 blade, the shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!
IX
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line’s 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!
Now, we don’t have time to unpack all of that, but at least it stays extremely on-brand for a horse racing tune with some light Confederacy sympathizing.
Next: 20 short stories about the 2018 Kentucky Derby horses
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