Here is some New Jersey pride, circa 1913. These are verses written by Charles Tomlin in his book, Cape May Spray. The book is a hodge-podge of history and lore of Cape May County, New Jersey.
As a fan of “Jersey Land” myself, I think the sentiments ring just as true today. All except the part about “sleighing snows with ice and skating.” That one is debatable!
…
…
So glad I live in the land of peaches
Down nearby the Cape May beaches,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
New Jersey land where I was born, Early on one frosty morning,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—-
Chorus:
Then I’m glad I am in Jersey,
Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!
In Jersey Land I’ll take my stand
To live and die in Jersey,
Away, away,
Away down in South Jersey,
Away, away,
Away down in South Jersey,
—
The land of oysters, clams and mosquitoes,
Potpie, fish and sweet potatoes,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
There’s hills of sand and best of bathing,
Sleighing snows with ice and skating,
—
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
Oh, sing of South Jersey’s fragrant air, Of its health and beauty everywhere,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—
Of its lassies fair and its lads so bright,
Its schools, farms, factories and electric lights,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
It is washed by the old Atlantic blue
And by the noble Delaware too,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—-
The sounds are fine for sport and game,
The beach resorts are far from tame,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—-
The ocean may chill, mosquitoes may bite,
But Delaware Bay is warmed just right,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
For a boy to bathe both day and night,
So shout South Jersey with all your might,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—
Sure this is the land of cream and honey,
Everything is grown for money,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
Every mother says to her sonny,
“Grow up great and be somebody,”
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—
The boys reply “We will do our best
And all good knowledge we will test,”
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
The girls reply, “We are up-to-date,”
This age we’ll help make good and great,”
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
—
All honor to our sires who chose this spot,
Not frigid cold nor torrid hot,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land:
As Washington’s patriots brave and true,
They in the sixties (1861-5) wore the blue,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Jersey land: