[1] Penned in four verses, the melody was composed by Reginald De Koven who agreed to set Meany's words to music for $100, which was paid by the Associated Students of the University of Washington.

[2] While Meany did not intend for "Washington Beloved" to be anything more than a collegiate song, a movement started to establish it as the state anthem, the lyrics being equally suitable for such use and the composer – de Koven – sufficiently prominent.

[1] Concurrent resolutions in joint session are only ceremonial expressions of the will of the legislature so the establishment of "Washington Beloved" was not codified as state law.

In 1985, television host Ross Shafer began a campaign to replace "Washington, My Home" as the state song with "Louie, Louie", on the basis that the latter song was popularized by Tacoma, Washington, resident Rockin' Robin Roberts two years prior to it achieving national acclaim as a rock standard.

[7] After several county governments enacted resolutions supporting the campaign, a rally was held on the steps of the Washington State Capitol featuring The Fabulous Wailers, The Kingsmen, and Paul Revere and the Raiders, who performed a 30-minute version of the tune.

[10][11] The sponsor of the effort, Kris Brannon, said he undertook the attempt to raise awareness of the Sonics' then-imminent departure for Oklahoma City.

[10] The proposal would have required a petition signed by 241,153 registered voters to qualify for inclusion on the election ballot; no signatures were submitted by the deadline.

[1]John F. Kennedy once praised the lyrics of "Washington, My Home" and suggested its line "for you and me, a destiny" replace the state's commonly accepted, though unofficial, motto Alki, the latter a word in the local creole Chinook Jargon roughly meaning "by and by", "eventually", or "future".