I believe that says it all…
Nebraska state senator Carroll Burling, representing Kenesaw and its surrounding area, has introduced a bill that would change the state song to this:
Admittedly, the current state song isn't much better. Written by Jim Fras, it goes a little something like this:
Beautiful Nebraska, peaceful prairieland,
laced with many rivers, and the hills of sand,
dark green valleys cradled in the earth,
rain and sunshine bring abundant birth.Chorus:
Beautiful Nebraska, as you look around,
you will find a rainbow reaching to the ground.
all these wonders by the Master's hand,
Beautiful Nebraskaland.We are so proud of this state where we live.
There is no place that has so much to give.Chorus:
Beautiful Nebraska, as you look around,
you will find a rainbow reaching to the ground.
all these wonders by the Master's hand,
Beautiful Nebraskaland.
Maybe things are a little differ'nt out west, but I've never ridden a horse down a riverbed, and I think tornadoes are more common than rainbows in the Cornhusker State.
It's bad enough that every non-Nebraskan thinks we're all a bunch of red neck hicks who chew on our corn cob pipes as we sit around the wood stove at night1. There's more to this state than rodeos, football games, and agriculture. Hopefully we can find a song that points this out instead of reinforcing the stereotypical perceptions of our fine state.
- Yes, this is how people think of us. When we lived in St. Louis, one of my in-laws friends asked me what it was like growing up on a farm! I told her that I wouldn't know, since the city I grew up in has a quarter of a million people. She seemed shocked to hear that Nebraska had so many residents. [back]
Second thoughts...
Sure, it may be a little cheesy, but at least it doesn't sound like it's been set to the country/western background music setting on a late-80's Casio keyboard.
RSS 2.0
OK once again your step mom is putting in her two cents…
Boy, Nebraska is a whole lot more than the superficial piece of fluff (not my first choice of words!) While the melody may be catchy…ok that's the only nice thing I can think of to say about it. If that new proposed song says it all about Nebraska then I'm not a believer!
I think Jim and Guy got it right! As for "Beautiful Nebraska" it is a testimony, a moving piece if you know the history behind it. As for the authors, one was a Russian immigrant and the other a humble man.
I had the extreme pleasure to know Guy Miller who co-wrote the song with Jim Fras. Guy was a maintenance man at Centel where I worked years ago. Not many state songs today would give credit where credit is due as with the line from Jim and Guy's "By the Master's hands"
Here's of snippet of Jim's thoughts on the line:
"By the Master's hand," he repeated nostalgically. "That's the story of my life. Everything carefully created and shaped by God: I suffered so much and came so close to death so many times, and every time, a hand more powerful than anything on earth reached out to save me and bring me to this wonderful, peaceful land." He paused briefly, then spoke in a firm voice, "There had to be a purpose, and this is it!"
For more on the life journey of Jim Fras check out http://www.dovelakeenterprises.com/index.htm
I think Jim and Guy got it right! Yeah, that's my beautiful Nebraska.