From the California State Library: "I Love You California"
"California's official state song is "I Love You, California",
written by F.B. Silverwood, a Los Angeles merchant. The words
were subsequently put to music by Alfred Frankenstein, a former
conductor for the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. It was the
official song of expositions held in San Francisco and San
Diego in 1915, and was played aboard the first ship to go
through the Panama Canal. In 1951, the State Legislature
passed a resolution designating it as California's state
song. During the years following, several attempts were made
to make other songs such as "California, Here I Come" the
official state song. Finally, in 1988, "I Love You, California"
became the official state song by law."
Love You, California
Verse 1
I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all.
I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore.
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.
Chorus
Where the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o'er the valleys bloom,
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Every breeze bearing rich perfume.
It is here nature gives of her rarest. It is Home Sweet Home to me,
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.
Verse 2
I love your red-wood forests - love your fields of yellow grain.
I love your summer breezes and I love your winter rain.
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine.
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.
Verse 3
I love your old gray Missions - love your vineyards stretching far.
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar.
I love your purple sun-sets, love your skies of azure blue.
I love you, California; I just can't help loving you.
Verse 4
I love you, Catalina, you are very dear to me.
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite.
I love you, Land of Sunshine, Half your beauties are untold.
I loved you in my childhood, and I'll love you when I'm old.
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