[1] The lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by James Ryder Randall in 1861 and sung to an old German folk melody, "Lauriger Horatius"[2] — the same tune used for "O Tannenbaum."

[3] The song's words refer to Maryland's history and geography, specifically mentioning several historical figures of importance to the state.

[5] Because of its origin in reaction to the Baltimore riot of 1861 and Randall's support for the Confederate States, it includes lyrics that refer to President Abraham Lincoln as "the tyrant", "the despot", and "the Vandal", and to the Union as "Northern scum".

It also mentions Virginia as an ally and includes that state's official motto "Sic semper tyrannis".

During the secession crisis, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (referred to in the poem as "the despot" and "the tyrant") ordered U.S. troops to be brought to Washington, D.C. to protect the capital and to prepare for war with the seceding southern states.

There was considerable Confederate sympathy in Maryland at the time; many residents opposing the use of the U.S. Army to prevent secession.

[8] Riots ensued as Union troops came through Baltimore on their way south in April 1861 and were attacked by mobs.

The Maryland legislature summarized the state's ambivalent feelings when it met soon after, on April 29, voting 53–13 against secession,[9][10] but also voting not to reopen rail links with the North, and requesting that Lincoln remove the growing numbers of federal troops in Maryland.

The poem was a plea to his home state of Maryland to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

Being unable to sleep after hearing the news, he claimed that "some powerful spirit appeared to possess me... the whole poem was dashed off rapidly... [under] what may be called a conflagration of the senses, if not an inspiration of the intellect".

[14] It became instantly popular in Maryland, aided by a series of unpopular federal actions there and throughout the South.

[17] At least one Confederate regimental band also played the song as Lee's troops retreated across the Potomac after the bloody Battle of Antietam.

The songs indicated as well their respective audiences, according to Holmes: "One is a hymn, with ghostly imagery and anthem-like ascription.

Avenge the patriotic gore That flecked the streets of Baltimore, And be the battle queen of yore, Maryland!

With Ringgold's spirit for the fray, With Watson's blood at Monterey, With fearless Lowe and dashing May, Maryland!

Come to thine own anointed throng, Stalking with Liberty along, And sing thy dauntless slogan song, Maryland!

Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the shot, the bowl, Than crucifixion of the soul, Maryland!

[20][21][22] In July 2015, Delegate Peter A. Hammen, chairman of the Maryland House of Delegates House Health and Government Operations Committee, asked the Maryland State Archives to form an advisory panel to review the song.

[23] The panel report stated that the Maryland state song should: In 2016, the Maryland Senate passed a bill to revise the song to include just the third verse of Randall's lyrics and only the fourth verse of a poem of the same name, written in 1894 by John T.

[31] The bill received an Unfavorable Report by the House Health and Government Operations Committee on April 9, 2018.

[32] A bill was filed in the House of Delegates for the 2020 session to appoint an advisory panel to "review public submissions and suggestions for a new State song", but the bill did not advance past the hearing because the General Assembly adjourned early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[38] The College of the Holy Cross[39] and St. Bonaventure University[40] both use the tune for their respective alma maters.

In 1962, Edmund Wilson used the phrase "patriotic gore" from the song as the title of his book on the literature of the Civil War.