Is Our State Song “My Michigan” or “Michigan, My Michigan”?
So which is Michigan’s official State song: “My Michigan” or “Michigan, My Michigan”? Although people usually get the titles mixed up, they are two completely different songs.
While "Michigan, My Michigan" is the more popular of the two, the actual official State of Michigan’s song is “My Michigan". That song was made official in 1937 but most Michiganians hold “Michigan, My Michigan" in reverence.
With “Michigan, My Michigan" surpassing “My Michigan” in popularity, there was a 2003 bill that tried to switch songs as the official state song, but the attempt failed.
In 1862, Winifred Lee Brent Lyster of Detroit was the lyricist of "Michigan, My Michigan", written intentionally to the tune of the holiday song “O Christmas Tree". Her husband, Henry, was a Union Army Medical Inspector and Medical Director and it was The Battle of Fredericksburg that inspired Winifred to write the song.
In 1886. Major James W. Long of Grand Rapids decided to scribe new lyrics with the same music but kept the Civil War theme.
Then along came Douglas Malloch in 1902. He wrote all-new lyrics purposely for the Michigan State Federation of Woman's Clubs, located in Muskegon. The theme of war was dropped and the lyrics were more peaceful...and those are the lyrics that still stand to this day.
However, the “O Christmas Tree” music was dropped in favor of new music composed by W. Otto Miessner of Detroit.
Now you know.
Now you can win arguments.
