Old North State
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Courtesy of Reference Librarian Harry McKown, North Carolina Collection, UNC Chapel Hill:

Check out this pdf of  news clippings about our beloved state toast!

On February 18, 1927, “The Old North State” was officially adopted as the state song of North Carolina.

The lyrics to “The Old North State” were composed by Judge William Gaston in Raleigh in 1835. Judge Gaston had left his plantation in Craven County and was staying with a local family while the state Supreme Court was in session. After couple of the women in the household had attended a concert of bell-ringers visiting from Switzerland, they sang and played on the piano one of the tunes they had heard. Taken with the music, Gaston wrote out several verses of the now well-known song.

Though the words to “The Old North State” are appropriately patriotic, one line often stands out to people hearing or reading it for the first time: “Tho’ the scorner may sneer at, and witling defame her, Yet our hearts swell with gladness, Whenever we name her.” (more)

William J. Gaston (September 19, 1778 - January 23, 1844) was a jurist and United States Representative from North Carolina. Gaston was born in New Bern, North Carolina, September 19, 1778. He entered Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., at the age of thirteen, becoming its first student. Due to illness shortly thereafter, he also became its first dropout.
After Georgetown and some education in North Carolina, he graduated from Princeton University in 1796, where he studied law. Gaston was admitted to the bar in 1798 and commenced practice in New Bern, North Carolina. He was a member of the State senate in 1800, served in the State House of Commons from 1807-1809, and as its speaker in 1808. He was again a member of the State senate in 1812, 1818, and 1819, and was elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817). While in Congress, he obtained a federal charter for Georgetown University. (more)

Written by William Gaston
Composed by Mrs. E. E. Randolph

Carolina! Carolina! heaven’s blessings attend her,
While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her,
Tho’ the scorner may sneer at and witlings defame her,
Still our hearts swell with gladness whenever we name her.

Hurrah! Hurrah! the Old North State forever,
Hurrah! Hurrah! the good Old North State.

Tho’ she envies not others, their merited glory,
Say whose name stands the foremost, in liberty’s story,
Tho’ too true to herself e’er to crouch to oppression,
Who can yield to just rule a more loyal submission.

Hurrah! Hurrah! the Old North State forever,
Hurrah! Hurrah! the good Old North State.

Then let all those who love us, love the land that we live in,
As happy a region as on this side of heaven,
Where plenty and peace, love and joy smile before us,
Raise aloud, raise together the heart thrilling chorus.

Hurrah! Hurrah! the Old North State forever,
Hurrah! Hurrah! the good Old North State.