On Sunday, Jan. 29, Kansas celebrated its 162nd birthday. To commemorate the day, Kansas Tourism released a video that pays tribute to the poem turned song, “Home on the Range,” originally penned 150 years ago near Athol. The lyrics of the world-renowned melody echo the aspirations, values and essence of Kansans past and present.

The Kansas Day video, set to the famous song, highlights the uniqueness of Kansas. From scenic prairies and big night skies to urban delights and vibrant moments, the video showcases how the lyrics wrote many moons ago still ring true today.

The video also features five Kansas artists who have recorded their own renditions of our state song. You can watch the Home on the Range tribute, behind-the-music artist interviews, and exclusive music videos at TravelKS.com/KansasDay.

“Home on the Range has been memorized and sung by generations of Kansans,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “The genuine passion these homegrown recording artists bring to our state song should fill you with pride to hail from the Sunflower State.”

Kansas Tourism is continuing the birthday celebration throughout the next week and is asking fellow Kansans to join in the fun.

“There is so much to celebrate about Kansas that we decided to make this a week-long commemoration,” said Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe. “This year, we are continuing the festivities of showing our love and state pride beyond Jan. 29. We invite all Kansans and those who love Kansas to join in our celebration.”

To participate:

Watch, like and share Kansas Tourism’s video tribute to Home on the Range on social media here:

• https://www.facebook.com/TravelKS

• https://www.instagram.com/kansastourism/

• https://twitter.com/travelks

Make your own special salute to the Sunflower State on your social media channels. Use the To the Stars format and #ToTheStarsKS as outlined at TravelKS.com/KansasDay. Record and post your own Home on the Range rendition on social media using #ToTheStarsKS. Get your official Kansas Tourism To the Stars gear at www.TravelKS.com to show your Kansas pride year-round. More details of how to participate are at www.TravelKS.com/KansasDay.

HOME ON THE RANGE

On June 30, 1947, the Kansas legislature adopted Home on the Range as the official state song. This classic western folk song has often been referred to as the “unofficial anthem” of the American West. Though many verses have been written and used for the song, here is the closest version to the original according to Kansas Sampler Foundation:

VERSE 1

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antelope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the sky is not clouded all day.

CHORUS

Home, home on the range,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the sky is not clouded all day.

Note: The original chorus first line was “A home, a home”

VERSE 2

Oh, give me the land where the bright diamond sand

Throws its light from the glittering stream

Where glideth along the graceful white swan,

Like a maid in a heavenly dream.

VERSE 3

Oh, give me the gale of the Solomon vale,

Where life streams with buoyancy flow,

On the banks of the Beaver, where seldom if ever

Any poisonous herbage doth grow.

VERSE 4

I love the wild flowers in this bright land of ours;

I love the wild curlew’s shrill scream, 

The bluffs and white rocks and antelope flocks

That graze on the hillsides so green.

VERSE 5

How often at night, when the heavens are bright

With the light of the glittering stars,

Have I stood here amazed and asked as I gazed

If their glory exceeds this of ours.

VERSE 6

The air is so clear, the breeze so pure,

The zephyrs so balmy and light,

I would not exchange my home here to range

Forever in azure so bright.