SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 27
(By Senators Miller, Laird, Wells and Beach)
Designating “My Home Among the Hills” by E. W. James an official State Song of West Virginia.
Whereas, “This is My West Virginia”, “The West Virginia Hills” and “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home” are the current official state songs; and
Whereas, The current three official West Virginia state songs were designated by House Concurrent Resolution No. 19, adopted February 28, 1963; and
Whereas, “My Home Among the Hills” is well known to many West Virginians and is sung at many school ceremonies and functions; and
Whereas, “My Home Among the Hills” was composed by West Virginia Wesleyan College trustee E.W. “Bill” James, who was also the mayor of Clarksburg, West Virginia, from 1957 to 1961; and
Whereas, The lyrics of “My Home Among the Hills” honor West Virginia in a magnificent manner:
There's a land of rolling mountains
Where the sky is blue above.
And though I may roam, I hurry home,
To those friendly hills I love.
Where moonlit meadows ring
with the call of whippoorwills
Always you will find me in my home among the hills
And where the sun draws rainbows in the mist
of waterfalls and mountain rills
My heart will be always in the West Virginia Hills
There, autumn hillsides are bright with scarlet trees
and in the spring, the robins sing
While apple blossoms whisper in the breeze
And there is music in the flashing streams
and joy in the fields of daffodils
Laughter through the happy valleys of my home among the hills;
and
Whereas, “My Home Among the Hills” appears in music method books written for children; and
Whereas, The Chanticleer Children’s Chorus of West Virginia and many state high school choirs include “My Home Among the Hills” in their performances; and
Whereas, “My Home Among the Hills” is considered an unofficial state song; and
Whereas, It is deemed desirable to add “My Home Among the Hills” as an official State Song; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That “My Home Among the Hills” by E. W. James be designated an official State Song of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor of the State of West Virginia.