A Closer Look at Florida’s Musical Past

On May 28, 1935, Florida lawmakers adopted Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home” as the official state song, thanks to sponsorship by Miami legislator S. P. Robineau. The tune, better known as “Way Down Upon the Swanee River,” had been a popular melody since 1851, but its original lyrics were written in the voice of an enslaved man reminiscing about plantation life.

Its outdated language raised concerns even in the song’s own era, and for many years its wording continued to spark discussion about whether it still belonged in Florida law.

By the 1950s, pressure grew for networks to revise Foster’s lyrics before broadcast. Florida congressman Charles Bennett pushed back in 1957, insisting there was no reason for offense, though many Floridians and lawmakers disagreed. Legislative attempts to replace the song continued to surface without success.

In 2008, Jacksonville senator Tony Hill tried again. As his proposal faltered, Sen. Jim King offered a compromise: update the lyrics for the state song and introduce a separate state anthem. The Legislature approved both.

The revised “Old Folks at Home” remained the state song, and “Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky” became the anthem. Foster (pictured) never visited Florida; he chose the Suwannee River simply because the name sounded musical.