SENATE, No. 1431

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JULY 25, 1996

By Senators BAER and CARDINALE

An Act designating "New Jersey My Home" as the State song.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The State song shall be the words and music of the song entitled "New Jersey My Home" composed by Patrick D. Finley.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill designates "New Jersey My Home," composed by Patrick D. Finley, as the State song. Mr. Finley, a resident of Teaneck, is the Music Director at Park Ridge High School. In January of 1996, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts was directed by law to conduct a competition to choose three songs to be recommended, in descending order of preference, to the Legislature for the purpose of designating a State song. "New Jersey My Home" was named first choice from more than 240 entries of original music and lyrics.

    The lyrics of "New Jersey My Home" are as follows:

There's a sailboat on the Hudson

'Neath the great cliffs of the Palisades,

There's a campfire by the Delaware

Where the evening shadow fades.

There's a lighthouse that is silent,

But for Sounds of white sea-foam.

You're the best of all my memories,

New Jersey, my home.

You're the cry of revolution,

You're the singing of a children's choir.

You're the voice of Thomas Edison,

And all that he inspired.

You're Leaves of Grass and Salem's oak,

With its green, majestic dome.

You're a glorious page of history,

New Jersey, my home.

For as long as violets blossom

In the gardens by the Jersey Shore,

And spirits walk through Princeton's halls,

We'll love you evermore.

And we'll be your sons and daughters

Wherever we may roam.

You're the mirror of America,

New Jersey, my home.

Designates "New Jersey My Home" as the State song.