OK. Really needin some serious help here. I thought I'd listen to some state songs

[struggle4progress]

I mean, I've lived in a bunch of states without ever learnin the state songs

And I thought, Well, I wonder, why didn't I ever learn the state songs?

California:
I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all
I love you in the winter, summer, spring, and in the fall ...

Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, mighty is your name,
Steeped in glory and tradition, object of acclaim ...

North Carolina:
Carolina! Carolina! Heaven's blessings attend her!
While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her ...

Gaaack! I might run my car into a ditch divin to turn off the radio if one of these sick puppies came on!

Are there any decent state songs?

[bluesbassman]

1. Don't know where you dug that one up, but this is California's state song.

:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmbhfI8f_Ek

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Following your link, I seriously expected it to be this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW8UlY8eXCk

Nothing else even came to mind regarding "California State Song."

[CC]

2. Maryland's is ok though every once in a while

someone tries to have it replaced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland,_My_Maryland

Maryland, My Maryland

I
The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!

II
Hark to an exiled son's appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!

III
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!

IV
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!

V
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!

VI
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
"Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back again,
Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!

VII
I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!

VIII
Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!

IX
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! she burns! she'll come! she'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJcHNCZNj24

[struggle4progress]

6. I liked it better before I realized it was essentially a pro-secession song:

... Virginia should not call in vain ... Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum! ...

[CC]

18. That is why they

try to change it. I didn't realize until looking it up that it was a pro-secession and sung by Confederates during the war.

[LiberalEsto]

13. "But lo! there surges forth a shriek"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

And I'm a Marylander.

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Okay, that's my new autosig.

[nolabear]

25. Maryland: The Long Attention Span State!

That's some anthem.

[nolabear]

26. Dupe.

[abq e streeter]

3. Ours ; Oh Fair New Mexico, was written by Pat Garrett's daughter, Elizabeth

I don't think I've ever even heard it though.

[struggle4progress]

11. Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ai3iP6RPQY

Not too bad: it has an unusual mariachi band sort of flavor

[abq e streeter]

22. Thanks--I always thought it was especailly cool that it's by Pat Garrett's daughter

The whole Billy the Kid/Pat Garrett/Lincoln County Wars mythology is strong here. This is my favorite Billy the Kid related song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhhBvzGvaDc

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. Of course you can count on serious help in The Lounge.

.
.
.
Then can I go
watch Uncle Joe
Poke a ho' mush mellon
in his belly... button?
He'll pinch it
and shoot it
oh, high over me.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgcONaR9Ep4
.
.
.
All but Rhode Island... but that's in the title.
.
.
.

[NightWatcher]

5. Georgia on my mind, Ray Charles or Willie Nelson

Or

Georgia by Band of Horses

[struggle4progress]

8. +

[sarge43]

27. Hoagy Carmichael. How can it not be great? n/t

[CBGLuthier]

7. Well,not all states can get talented Broadway composers to write them

There's never been a better time to start in life-
It ain't too early and it aint too late!
Starting as a farmer with a brand new wife-
Still be living in a brand-new state!
Brand new state-
gonna treat you great!
Gonna buy you barley, carrots and pertaters,
Pasture for the cattle, spinich and termaters,
Flowers on the prarie where the June bugs zoom,
Plen'y of air and plen'y of room,
Plen'y of room to swing a rope!
Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope.

OOOOk-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain,
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet, When the wind comes right behind the rainQ
OOOOk-lahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I, Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk makin' lazy circles in the sky.

We know we belong to the land (yo-ho)
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma O.K.!

Ooook-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
Makin' lazy circles in the sky.

We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma O.K.

Okla-okla-Okla-Okla-Okla-Okla
Okla-okla-Okla-Okla-Okla-Okla...

We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma
O.K. L - A - H - O - M - A
OKLAHOMA!
Yeeow!

Or Hugh Jackman to sing it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpG4rEI16aA

[struggle4progress]

9. +

[KamaAina]

10. The state song so good it was once a national anthem

Hawai'i's, of course, written by H.H.M. David Kalakaua himself:

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, (Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
Nānā i kou mōʻī, Be loyal to your king,
Ka lani aliʻi, Your country's liege and lord
Ke aliʻi. The chief).

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, (Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
Nānā i nā aliʻi, Look to your chiefs,
Nā pua muli kou, The children after you,
Nā pōkiʻi. The young).

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, (Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
E ka lahui ē, People of loyal heart,
ʻO kou hana nui The only duty lies
E ui ē. List and abide).

Hui: Chorus:
Makua lani ē, (Father above us all,
Kamehameha ē, Kamehameha e,
Na kaua e pale, Who guarded in the war,
Me ka ihe. With his spear).

[struggle4progress]

12. "Our state song is our former national anthem" might be more pointed

if the tune didn't sound like a justifiably-forgotten Victorian hymn

[KamaAina]

16. It sounds pretty good when the Royal Hawaiian Band plays it

in the gazebo right in front of its composer's old home, 'Iolani Palace.

Alas, it hasn't been my state song for the past year and a half; the name is still there because they only let us change it every four years.

[struggle4progress]

23. This sounds OK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pzS_lrocjg

[Faygo Kid]

17. Geez, I live in Maryland but am from Michigan - and they both use "O Tannenbaum."

At least Maryland's talks about cool stuff like "despot's heel" and "avenge the patriotic gore."

"Michigan, My Michigan" - the original 1862 version at least captures some of that spirit, in a northern sense, of course:

Home of my heart, I sing of thee!
Michigan, My Michigan,
Thy lake-bound shores I long to see,
Michigan, my Michigan.
From Saginaw’s tall whispering pines
To Lake Superior’s farthest mines,
Fair in the light of memory shines
Michigan, my Michigan.

Thou gav’st thy sons without a sigh,
Michigan, my Michigan,
And sent thy bravest forth to die,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Beneath a hostile southern sky
They bore thy banner proud and high,
Ready to fight but never fly,
Michigan, my Michigan.

It goes on for many more stanzas and it's pretty much all about the war to that point.

I would prefer something like Motown. Maybe "Dancing In The Streets" by Martha and the Vandellas.

[Bake]

19. ROCKY TOP!!!!!

Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good Old Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee ...

:hi: :hi: :hi:

Bake

[struggle4progress]

20. +

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9prNixjbg

[femmocrat]

21. Everyone knows that Pennsylvania's real state song is the "Pennsylvania Polka"!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kTWwJ9NQbY

I have never heard that "other" one.

[struggle4progress]

24. "It started in Scranton"

Now there's an endorsement! :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjBd8O5LtKg&feature=related

[meow2u3]

32. Tell that to VP Biden

I'd like to see how he reacts!

[struggle4progress]

36. !

:D

[Curmudgeoness]

28. Damn, you beat me to it. nt

[fizzgig]

29. our (un)official state song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwARpaKHx_w

[orleans]

30. fuck state songs. just do city songs:

chicago--frank sinatra
sweet home chicago--blues brothers
take me back to chicago--chicago
new york state of mind--billy joel
allentown--billy joel

oh wait--vermont! "moonlight in vermont" -- that should be their state song. it's gorgeous.

[LiberalEsto]

31. New Jersey doesn't have one, officially

which is very strange considering how many musical stars were born and raised there.

I lived in New Jersey until 1990, and my choice for state song would be the "Jersey Bounce". It was, according to Wikipedia, "written by Tiny Bradshaw, Eddie Johnson and Bobby Plater with lyrics by Buddy Feyne who used the nom de plume Robert B. Wright (as this song was written during an ASCAP strike). It hit #1 in 1942 as an instrumental recorded by Benny Goodman and his orchestra, and also charted that same year by Jimmy Dorsey (#9) and Shep Fields (#15) . It was covered by numerous bands and swing orchestras including Glenn Miller, Jan Savitt and Red Norvo. Artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Mae Morse and The King Sisters also recorded it. Fitzgerald recorded it on her two albums Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! and again on All That Jazz. The King Sisters and Ella Mae Morse versions were singles."

The Jersey Bounce lyrics begin:

" They call it the Jersey Bounce
A rhythm that really counts
The temperature always mounts
Whenever they play the funny rhythm they play

It started on Journal Square
And Somebody heard it there
They put it right on the air
And now you'll hear it everywhere..."

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Bounce

Some years ago the NJ Legislature named Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" as the UNofficial
state anthem.

This is by Red Mascara, a guy who haunted the NJ State House for years, badgering legislators to make his song the state song. His (or somebody's) web page declares that "I'm from New Jersey" is the "official" state song, but it's NOT. Thank heaven the legislators have SOME common sense when they're not busy looting the state and getting indicted. I apologize for inflicting it on DU.

I'm From New Jersey
Written & Music by Red Mascara

I know of a state that's a perfect playland with white sandy beaches by the sea;
With fun-filled mountains, lakes and parks, and folks with hospitality;
With historic towns where battles were fought, and presidents have made their home;
It's called New Jersey, and I toast and tout it wherever I may roam. 'Cause . . .
First Chorus

I'M FROM NEW JERSEY and I'm proud about it, I love the Garden State.
I'M FROM NEW JERSEY and I want to shout it, I think it's simply great.
All of the other states throughout the nation may mean a lot to some;
But I wouldn't want another, Jersey is like no other, I'm glad that's where I'm from.
Second Chorus

If you want glamour, try Atlantic City or Wildwood by the sea;
Then there is Trenton, Princeton, and Fort Monmouth, they all made history.
Each little town has got that certain something, from High Point to Cape May;
And some place like Mantoloking, Phillipsburg, or Hoboken will steal your heart away.

[struggle4progress]

37. I'm From New Jersey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwzRcdykc1I

[WilliamPitt]

33. Massachusetts

Fuck You
Get Off My Lawn

(trumpets)

[LiberalEsto]

35. Isn't it laahn

as in Get Off My Laahn

What a selection you've got. Why can't Maryland have a state polka, dammit?

from http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/song/ma_songs.htm

"The Massachusetts General Court has adopted seven "songs" or musical entities to represent the Commonwealth. The state currently has one state song, one state folk song, one state ceremonial march, one state patriotic song, one state glee club song, one state polka and one state ode.

* State Song: "All Hail to Massachusetts", by Arthur J. Marsh
* State Folk Song: "Massachusetts", by Arlo Guthrie
* State Ceremonial March: "The Road to Boston", composer unknown
* State Patriotic Song: "Massachusetts (Because of You Our Land is Free)", by Bernard Davidson (Go)
* State Glee Club Song: "The Great State of Massachusetts", words by George A. Wells and music by J. Earl Bley
* State Polka: "Say Hello to Someone in Massachusetts", by Lenny Gomulka
* State Ode: "Ode to the Commonwealth", by Joseph Falzone "

[RandomThoughts]

34. I posted John Candy singing a Washington state song.

But I could have posted The Great Outdoors.

Really wasn't about anything relevant accept that it exists.


The Great Outdoors (1988)
http://www.videodetective.com/movie_trailer/THE_GREAT_OUTDOORS/trailer/P00000230.htm

Or Summer Rental.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TeduHoBvdo


He made some great films :D