Maryland Senate votes to retire Confederate state song that refers to Lincoln as a ‘tyrant’

The Maryland Senate on Friday voted to scrap the state’s official song, a Confederate tune that refers to former President Lincoln as a “tyrant.” 

The upper chamber voted by a unanimous 45-0 margin to scrap the “Maryland, My Maryland,” a vote that comes after years of debate. The House had already passed similar legislation, sending the bill to Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) desk for a signature.

Hogan has not yet taken a public stance on the legislation, and his office has said he will review it when it is sent to him.

“Finally… a unanimous Senate vote to repeal Maryland’s #Confederate-themed #StateSong! Legislative efforts date back to 1974, including by my Senate predecessor. Lyrics calling Abe Lincoln a tyrant and a despot will soon be deleted from our law books,” celebrated Democratic state Sen. Cheryl Kagan after the Senate vote. 

Finally… a unanimous Senate vote to repeal Maryland’s #Confederate-themed #StateSong! Legislative efforts date back to 1974, including by my Senate predecessor. Lyrics calling Abe Lincoln a tyrant and a despot will soon be deleted from our law books. #ItsTime #MDGA21 pic.twitter.com/38yiKjA1LU

— Cheryl C. Kagan (@CherylKagan) March 20, 2021

Democrats in the state have long sought to repeal the state song, panning it as racist. The latest legislative push lasted for five years and culminated in Friday’s vote.

Among other things, the song refers to Lincoln as a “tyrant” and warns that the “despot’s heel is on thy shore.” 

“They glorify the actions of a mob as a patriotic gore. They enshrine a world in which slavery was considered righteous,” Maryland historian Edward Papenfuse told WBAL.