"Washington, My Home"
Song
"Washington, My Home"
The state song, "Washington, My Home," was written by Helen Davis, arranged by Stuart Churchill, and became the official state song in 1959. But, like the goldfinch, it had some stiff competition from another popular song.
Back in 1909, "Washington Beloved" was adopted, sort of, by the Legislature. Professor Edmond Meany, the historian, wrote the words and Reginald de Koven, who also wrote "O Promise Me" and other operettas, wrote the music. But the official designation for the song was never formally introduced as a bill and so was not part of the state's code of law. When a state senator from South Bend introduced a bill in 1959 to make "Washington, My Home" our state song, it was approved unanimously.
In April 2002, the Tumwater Girls' Choir performed the state song at the Capitol under choir director Jack Arend. Listen to the recording from TVW in one of the formats below:
Want to try playing the state song? Download the Washington, My Home sheet music.