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Florida's state anthem sits beside the old state song

Florida has an official state song and a state anthem, which makes the music side of state symbols a little more layered than people expect.

Florida’s music symbol is not as simple as one song title.

The old state song, “Old Folks at Home,” is tied to the Suwannee River and has a long public history. In 2008, Florida kept that old state song with revised lyrics and also made “Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky” the state anthem.

That makes the story more layered than a trivia answer. It shows how state symbols can carry pride, memory, and discomfort at the same time. A symbol may stay, but the way the state uses it can change.

For students, teachers, event planners, and civic groups, it helps to check the current state pages before printing a program or building a school project around memory alone. The song and anthem are related, but they are not the same slot.

The useful part is simple: Florida is old enough to have symbols with history behind them. Some are easy and sunny. Some need a little care. That is part of knowing the state well.

Where to see it

State-symbol pages, school projects, civic events, and Suwannee River history stops. Check current event programs before assuming which song will be used.

Connected places

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Official sources

Last checked against these sources: July 6, 2026.

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