The year Nebraska celebrated its centennial, it got a new state song. “Beautiful Nebraska” was so designated by the Nebraska legislature and the bill was signed into law on June 21, 1967 by Governor Norbert Tiemann. Russian immigrant Jim Fras said he got the idea for the melody during a drive in the countryside near Lincoln. He parked his car by a clump of trees near a farmer’s field. While resting on his back in tall grass and looking at the bright, blue sky, a new melody popped into his head. He hurried home, where he sat down at the piano and quickly finished the melody and wrote it down.
The late Fras collaborated with his friend the late Guy G. Miller to write lyrics for the tune. Although the legislature considered a bill to change the state song in 2007, “Beautiful Nebraska” remains the official ode set to music.
Beautiful Nebraska, peaceful prairieland,
Laced with many rivers, and the hills of sand;
Dark green valleys cradled in the earth,
Rain and sunshine bring abundant birth.Beautiful Nebraska, as you look around,
You will find a rainbow reaching to the ground;
All these wonders by the Master’s hand;
Beautiful Nebraska land.We are so proud of this state where we live,
There is no place that has so much to give.Beautiful Nebraska, as you look around,
You will find a rainbow reaching to the ground;
All these wonders by the Master’s hand,
Beautiful Nebraska land.
Jim Fras reminisced over the song’s success with Don Jacks of The Nebraska Trail in 1977.