"I Love You California" Lyrics, behind the Official State Song

California Cliché: Day Trippy, Tourist Listy.

Did you know California has an official state song? The song lyrics (below) to the aptly named song, “I Love You, California” were written in 1913 by Francis Beatty Silverwood, a clothier from LA, with music by Abraham Franklin Frankenstein, conductor of the Orpheum Theatre Orchestra.

Savvy Trivia: Jeep made a fun commercial featuring the song, with gorgeous visuals showing the California’s iconic landscapes, state flower, California flag, and other California icons. Jeep introduced the video on Youtube saying, “California is the only place you can surf, snowboard, dirt bike, or skate all in the same day.”

“I Love You, California” Lyrics

I.
I love you, California, you’re the greatest state of all.
I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore.
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

Chorus
When the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o’er the valleys bloom,
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Every breeze bearing rich perfume.
It is here nature gives of her rarest. It is Home Sweet Home to me,
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.

II.
I love your red-wood forests – love your fields of yellow grain.
I love your summer breezes and I love your winter rain.
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine.
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.

III.
I love your old gray Missions – love your vineyards stretching far.
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar.
I love your purple sun-sets, love your skies of azure blue.
I love you, California; I just can’t help loving you.

IV.
I love you, Catalina, you are very dear to me.
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite.
I love you, Land of Sunshine, half your beauties are untold.
I loved you in my childhood, and I’ll love you when I’m old.

California State Bear

If you love California, chances are you love the state animal, the grizzly bear that graces the state flag. But that’s not the only place you’ll see it. People create, sell and buy all kinds of products flaunting the words, “I Love You California.” You’ll find bunches of them on popular online shopping sites. I’ve seen everything from t-shirts and hoodies, to kids’ clothing, mugs, posters, word art, jewelry, license plates, tattoos, and more. Kinda makes you think people out there love California after all.