Maryland My Maryland With Lyrics

OYWM – Hey friend! Today I want to chat about the history and meaning behind the classic song “Maryland My Maryland”. This tune has an interesting backstory tied to the American Civil War and the divided loyalties of the border state of Maryland.

Lyrics

The despot’s heel is on thy shore
Maryland, my Maryland
His torches at thy temple door
Maryland, my Maryland
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore
And be the battle queen of yore
Maryland, my Maryland
Thou wilt not cower in the dust
Maryland, my Maryland
Thy beaming sword shall never rust
Maryland, my Maryland
Remember Carroll’s sacred trust
Remember Howard’s warlike thrust
And though thy slumberers with the just
Maryland, my Maryland
Dear mother, burst the tyrant’s chain
Maryland, my Maryland
Virginia should not call in vain
Maryland, my Maryland
She meets her sisters on the plain
“Sic semper” ’tis the proud refrain
That baffle’s minions back o’Maine
Maryland, my Maryland
Arise, arise in majesty again
Maryland, Maryland, my Maryland

A Bit of Context

First, some quick historical context. As you probably know, Maryland was one of the border slave states that remained in the Union during the Civil War. However, many Marylanders sympathized with the Confederate cause.

This divide led to a tumultuous internal conflict within the state. Pro-Confederate Marylanders protested the Union and even attacked Union troops as they traveled through Baltimore in 1861. But Union forces soon occupied Maryland and arrested pro-Confederate legislators and others.

So Maryland was a real hotbed of division during the war, torn between the Union and Confederacy.

The Song’s Origin

It’s in this setting that James Ryder Randall, a native Marylander teaching college in Louisiana, wrote the poem “Maryland My Maryland” in April 1861.

Randall was angry about the occupation of his home state and wrote the poem shortly after learning that Union troops had killed civilians in the Baltimore riot. The emotional poem calls on Marylanders to secede and join the new Confederacy.

Here’s a snippet of Randall’s original language:

The despot’s heel is on thy shore,

His torch is at thy temple door,

Avenge the patriotic gore

That flecked the streets of Baltimore,

And be the battle queen of yore,

Maryland! My Maryland!

So you can see Randall employing bold rhetoric to stir up Confederate sympathy among his fellow Marylanders. He personifies Maryland as a queen, calling her to secede and seek vengeance against the Union “despot” who has invaded her shores.

Setting the Poem to Song

Randall’s poem was quickly set to music and published in sheet form in Baltimore right after it was written in 1861. Women in Baltimore and other southern sympathizers in Maryland began singing the song to protest the Union occupation.

The song was even adopted as a battle hymn by Confederate soldiers from Maryland. They sang it while marching or around the campfire to express their longing for home and desire to fight for their independence.

Here are the opening lyrics of the song:

The despot’s heel is on thy shore,

Maryland, my Maryland!

His torch is at thy temple door,

Maryland, my Maryland!

So the song really took on a life of its own as an anthem and expression of Confederate loyalty, gaining popularity throughout the South.

Mixed Legacy

After the Civil War ended, “Maryland, My Maryland” was adopted as the official state song in 1939. However its Confederacy associations led Maryland to reconsider. Starting in the 1970s, there were unsuccessful legislative attempts to replace it.

The song’s opening lyrics romanticize the Confederacy and call Marylanders to secede and fight the Union. So it’s incredibly offensive to many today.

But others argue it’s an invaluable historical artifact that reflects Maryland’s internal divisions during the war. This debate has raged on for years!

In 2021, Maryland repealed the song’s official status, but will keep it as a “historical artifact.” This represents a symbolic break with the legacy of the Confederacy, but also retains the song as a part of history.

The Song Lyrics

Now that you understand the history behind “Maryland, My Maryland”, let’s walk through the full lyrics together! Below I’ll call out certain stanzas that really encapsulate Randall’s Confederate perspective:

The despot’s heel is on thy shore,

Maryland, my Maryland!

His torch is at thy temple door,

Maryland, my Maryland!

The calls for secession and joining the Confederacy:

Dear Mother! burst the tyrant’s chain,

Maryland, My Maryland!

Virginia should not call in vain,

Maryland, My Maryland!

She meets her sisters on the plain-

Sic semper! ’tis the proud refrain

That baffles minions back again,

Arise in majesty again,

Maryland, My Maryland!

References to the deadly Baltimore riot:

Hark to an exiled son’s appeal,

Maryland, My Maryland!

My Mother State, to thee I kneel,

Maryland, My Maryland!

For life and death, for woe and weal,

Thy peerless chivalry reveal,

And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,

And death and danger scorn;

Thou wilt not cower in the dust,

Maryland, My Maryland!

The final stanza repeats the call for vengeance:

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!

So in summary, you can see how Randall’s lyrics romanticize Maryland’s ties to the Confederacy and attempt to stir violent opposition against the Union occupation. This was a very controversial perspective before and during the Civil War, which continues to inspire debate about the song’s meaning and value today.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts or questions about this fascinating tune, my friend! I’m always happy to dive into more details about the history behind creative works like this one. Looking forward to chatting more soon!