Many years ago, responding to announcements about a Chicago song context I submitted the lyrics below, following the directions for the contest, with original music by Ron Combs. We didn't win anything. However when I told my Uncle Al about this, he wrote a song, sang it into a cassette recorder and mailed in the cassette. He didn't win first prize, but The sponsoring radio station played his cassette on the air and sent him a case of Pepsi Cola!
City in a Garden (Urbs in Horto)
City in a Garden, Chicago is your name,
Green parks and sparkling waters,
Surround your mighty frame.
Your spirit shines from factories,
From Loop and Water Tower,
To crown the golden prairie
With magnificence and power
City in a Garden, upon your river banks,
Explorers, traders, settlers,
Marched on in timeless ranks.
Great railroads gathered by your lake,
Where barges braved the foam,
To build our own Chicagoland,
Our working city home.
City in a Garden, with flowers of every kind,
Your children are a medley,
Of old worlds left behind.
Life springs from your variety,
Strength from a neighbor’s hand,
Lift every voice in harmony,
To praise Chicagoland.
© Joan Levin,1982