As I’m writing this week’s column, I’m also
preparing to begin teaching an Arkansas history class for eighth graders at a
private school in Saline County. While going through the textbook to refresh my
knowledge of Arkansas geography and state symbols, I'm reminded that our state
has not one, but four — count 'em four — state songs. You’ve probably heard a
couple of them; others you may not know.
Arguably
the most famous song associated with our state is "The Arkansas
Traveler." Legend says Col. Sandford C. Faulkner composed the music and
lyrics to the song after an encounter with a squatter somewhere in the Ozark Mountains
around 1840.
Most
modern-day historians believe that while Faulkner wrote the tune and came up
with the tale, the encounter with the Ozarks squatter never happened. "The
Arkansas Traveler" was Arkansas' state song from 1949 to 1963, and in 1987,
the Arkansas General Assembly designated it the official state historic song.
Despite
being older and more well-known, "The Arkansas Traveler" was not
Arkansas' first state song. That distinction belongs to "Arkansas,"
written by Eva Ware Barnett, who was a music teacher at what is now called
Ouachita Baptist University. Barnett wrote the music and lyrics in 1916. And on
Jan. 12, 1917, state Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6 designated it as
Arkansas’ state song.
But in
1949, a copyright dispute broke out between Barnett and then-Arkansas Secretary
of State C.G. "Crip" Hall, and the Legislature replaced
"Arkansas" with "The Arkansas Traveler." It took several
years to settle the dispute, but "Arkansas” was finally restored as the
official state song in 1963. The tune served as the state song until 1987, when
it was named Arkansas’ official state anthem.
In that
same legislative session, the Legislature mandated that "the Secretary of
State shall respond to requests for a copy of the Arkansas state song by
furnishing copies of 'Arkansas,' written by Mrs. Eva Ware Barnett."
According to the Secretary of State’s website, the office gets between 50-100
requests per year for the sheet music to Barrett's song.
In 1986,
Arkansas celebrated its 150th anniversary of becoming part of the United States
with numerous events, celebrations and parades throughout the year. As its
contribution to Arkansas' sesquicentennial, Arkansas Power and Light (now
Entergy Arkansas) commissioned country music songwriter and Arkansas native
Wayland Holyfield to write and record a song celebrating Arkansas pride.
Originally
from Mallet Town (Conway County), Holyfield had become a successful songwriter
in Nashville, penning hits for Anne Murray, George Strait, Conway Twitty, Don
Williams and other top country musicians.
Holyfield’s
ode to his native state, "Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)," was
released in 1986 and adopted by the state Legislature as one of two official
state songs in 1987. At President Bill Clinton's request, Holyfield performed
the song at the 1993 presidential inauguration. Throughout the late '80s and into
the mid-'90s, the song was the nightly sign-off theme for the Arkansas
Educational Television Network (now Arkansas PBS). Holyfield has said that
writing the song was "the toughest challenge I think I've ever had."
Also in
1986, another Arkansas tribute song was released. "Oh, Arkansas" was
co-written and recorded by Little Rock musician Terry Rose. Rose was well known
for his collaborations with former KATV meteorologist Ned Perme. "Oh,
Arkansas" was played frequently on KATV throughout the year as part of its
"Spirit of Arkansas" campaign, and the Legislature designated the
song as one of Arkansas' two official state songs in 1987.
While the
Natural State may suffer from a lack of significant rainfall these days, it
definitely doesn’t suffer from a drought of music and lyrics that honor the
history, beauty and pride felt by its people.
A proud sixth-generation Arkansan,
Darrell W. Brown is a lover of all things Arkansas. He lives in Saline County
with his wife, Amy, and their beloved Boston Terrier, Dixie. Find him on
Facebook and Instagram at AllAroundArkansas.
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