HLS 21RS-123 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 351
BY REPRESENTATIVES PIERRE AND WILLARD
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STATE SYMBOL: Designates the song "Southern Nights" by Allen Toussaint as the
official state cultural song
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 49:155.7, relative to state symbols; to designate "Southern Nights" by Allen
3 Toussaint as the official state cultural song; and to provide for related matters.
4Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 49:155.7 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
6 ยง155.7. State song
7 There shall be, and is, hereby adopted and established as the official state
8 cultural song for the state of Louisiana, a musical composition, with lyrics and music
9 by Allen Toussaint of New Orleans, Louisiana, and entitled, "Southern Nights"; the
10 said lyrics reading as follows:
11 Southern nights
12 Have you ever felt a southern night?
13 Free as a breeze
14 Not to mention the trees
15 Whistling tunes that you know and love so
16 Southern nights
17 Just as good even when closed your eyes
18 I apologize
19 To any one who can truly say
20 That he's found a better way
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-123 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 351
1 Southern skies
2 Have you ever noticed southern skies?
3 It's precious beauty
4 Lies just beyond the eye
5 It goes running through the soul
6 Like the stories told of old
7 Old man
8 He and his dog that walk the old land
9 Every flower touched his cold hand
10 As he slowly walked by
11 Weeping willows would cry for joy
12 Joy
13 Feels so good
14 Feels so good it's frightening
15 Wish I could
16 Stop this world from fighting
17 La-da-da-da-da, da-la-da-da-da-da
18 Da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da
19 Mystery
20 Like this and many others
21 In the trees
22 Blow in the night
23 In the southern skies
24 Southern nights
25 They feel so good it's frightening
26 Wish I could
27 Stop this world from fighting
28 Da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da
29 Da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da, da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da...
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-123 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 351
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 351 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Pierre
Abstract: Provides for the official state cultural song entitled "Southern Nights" by Allen
Toussaint.
Proposed law designates "Southern Nights", a musical composition with lyrics and music
by Allen Toussaint, as the official state cultural song.
(Adds R.S. 49:155.7)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.