Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/514

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HISTORY OF OREGON LITERATURE

some way with Oregon and excludes all instrumental pieces. The most productive period in Oregon song writing was conspicuously the decade from 1910 to 1920. For some reason, during those ten years half of all the songs in the list were written and published.

As has already been observed, many of the things one would expect to be celebrated in Oregon song have been almost entirely overlooked. The favorite themes have been Oregon itself, roses, pioneers and special occasions.

The list, with some exceptions in the grouping of lyrics by the same author, is chronological, and has been separated into three 25-year periods—1860-1885, 1885-1910, 1910-1935.

Oregon Suits Me. Anonymous. Tune—"Battle Hymn of the Republic." New York. The School Singer, Mark H. Newman and Company.

Exact date not determined but probably in the 60's. The song tells about the disadvantages of Missouri, Kansas and North Dakota in two stanzas, each with the closing line "But Oregon suits me" and with the following chorus:

I am satisfied with Oregon.
I am satisfied with Oregon.
I am satisfied with Oregon,
The good old web-foot state.

The Oregon Farmer's Song. Written and sung by John Minto for the first Oregon State Fair, 1861.

Published in the Oregon Historical Quarterly, June, 1908; also in Rhymes of Early Life in Oregon.

A Granger's Love Song. By John Minto. 1867.

Composed to fill a lack in the collection of songs used by the Salem Grange Patrons of Husbandry. Published in Rhymes of Early Life in Oregon.

The Pacific Railroad. Words by M. B. C. S. Boston. The Golden Robin. Oliver Ditson Company. 1868.