Illinois Hits 204

We interrupt the Holiday Music Fest currently in progress so that we my bring you this special posting.  The Holiday Music Fest will return soon.  This afternoon, though, we honor the State of Illinois on the 204th anniversary of it being admitted to the Union.  Huzzah!

In honor of it as the true birthplace of America, or at least me, we do have music, so those of you who miss the latest installment of holiday songs at least have something to hold on to.  It's the state song, "Illinois," quite an aptly-named title, I must say.  It's also often know as "By Thy Rivers Gently Flowing," the song's first line, which adds a bit of grace to something otherwise more perfunctory.  There's a lovely chorus that sings along, very slowly as if it was a religious hymn.  For all I know, that's what they songwriters intended, rather than something to rouse the spirits -- or not.  Hymn-like does make it lovely, albeit interminable.  I have a feeling that it's all because of the word "Thy."  When you put "Thy" in a song, people are going to sing it like a hymn.  And if you give people a hymn and make it long-enough, there's a reasonable chance they'll turn it into a dirge.

By the way, why on earth that video says, "Illinois, Worth Fighting For," I have zero idea.  I wasn't aware it was under attack.  Not when the song was written, not in the intervening years and not now.  (Unless you count by people from Wisconsin driving down on tractors wearing their cheeseheads.  But that usually isn't legally considered an act of war.)  

Why on earth they also print the verses out of order -- even acknowledging doing so -- is another matter of bewilderment.

The thing is, as I watched the video again -- after having originally posted this in 2018 for the state's 200th birthday -- a few things stood out that missed before:  notably that every politician shown was a Republican.  Lincoln and Grant are fine.  And Everett Dirksen is okay, since he was a Senate Minority Leader.  Though his fellow-senator Paul Douglas was a truly great man, but no photo.  And a photo of Rep. Henry Hyde was odd, since he had resigned in scandal disgrace.  And while a photo of Ronald Reagan makes sense since he was president...there's no photo of President Barack Obama.  But there's a photo of Trump Tower in Chicago, which hasn't aged well.  So...nope, sorry, as beautiful as the montage of images from around the state are, I don't have it in me to repost.  Which is okay, too, since the version of the state song is dirge-like

Instead, here is a significantly shorter, 1-minute orchestral, rousing version played like a state's anthem should be played!

And for those who want to sing along, I'll post the lyrics to the first verse below.  You're welcome!
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By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
O’er the prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an echo o’er the breeze.
Rustling through the leafy trees,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois.