Baby heron's in the nest high in a pine tree on the edge of a lake in Topside, Tennessee: photo by Terry (In & Out) on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works).
Official State Public School Song
Tennessee designated "My Tennessee" by Frances Hannah Tranum as the official state public school song in 1955. Official Tennessee Songs - All State Songs
LYRICS
Beloved state, oh state of mine,
In all the world I could not find,
Where God has strewn with lavish hand,
More natural beauty o’er the land.
From ev’ry stream and valley green
His wond’rous art is ever seen.
Ah, let my heart beat true to thee,
And sell with pride for Tennessee.
VERSE 2
Thy rocks and rills, and wooded hills,
My mem’ry keeps the childhood thrills
You gave to me, that I might know
The joys supreme, you could bestow.
The song of birds, the whisp’ring trees,
The low of herds, the hum of bees,
It all comes back so dear to me,
My childhood home in Tennessee.
VERSE 3
Your battles fought, and vict’ries won,
Your freedom bought and duty done,
With daughters fair, and sons so brave,
To do and dare, their deeds they gave.
Courageously, without a fear,
And won the name of volunteer.
In sacred trust, let those who will,
By being just, preserve it still.
CHORUS
Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee,
Thy hills and vales are fair to see,
With mountains grand, and fertile lands
There is no state more dear to me.
Thro’ other climes tho I may roam,
There will be times I’ll long for home,
In Tennessee, Fair Tennessee,
The land of my nativity.