Help me find songs that refer to states!

[Superdude]

I'm trying to compile a list of songs. 50, to be exact. One for each state in the union. With one rule, though...the name of the state can't be referred to SOLELY in the title. Here are the songs I currently have:

1) "Take It Easy" by the Eagles ("I'm standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona")

2) "Mary Jane's Last Dance" by Tom Petty ("With them Indiana boys on an Indiana night")

3) "Kentucky Rain" by Elvis ("On this lonely Kentucky back road")

4) "Tattoo" by Faster Pussycat ("Should I find a little cabin up in Boise, Idaho?")

5) "Take Me Home (Country Roads)" by John Denver ("Almost heaven, West Virginia")

6) "Four Days" by Counting Crows ("Have you seen Ohio rise?")

7) "Good Time" by Counting Crows ("I'm just another boy from Texas")

8) "Rocky Top" - I think this song is public domain - ("Down in the Tennessee hills")

9) "I'm a Ramblin' Man" by Waylon Jennings ("I've been down to Mississippi, down through New Orleans")

10) "Calling Baton Rouge" by Garth Brooks ("I spent last night in the arms of a girl from Louisiana")

11) "Daylight Fading" by Counting Crows ("It's getting cold in California")

12) "Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett ("Remember that night in Montana?")

13) "You're My Home" by Billy Joel ("Home could be the Pennsylvania Turnpike")

14) "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night ("In Oklahoma, not Arizona")

15) "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" by Weird Al Yankovic ("Finally, at 7:37 early Wednesday evening, as the sun was setting in the Minnesota sky")

16) "Allentown" by Billy Joel "(Spent their weekends on the Jersey Shore")

17) "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" by Billy Joel ("Before we all lived here in Florida")

Can anyone help with the other 33 states? I need:

• Alabama
  Arkansas
  Washington
  Iowa
  Nebraska
  North Carolina
  South Carolina
  New York (which should be easy)
  Maine
  New Hampshire
  Vermont
  Georgia
  Delaware
  Connecticut
  Illinois
  Michigan
  Missouri
  Virginia
  Nevada
  Utah
  Orgeon
  North Dakota
  South Dakota
  Wisconsin
  Wyoming
  New Mexico
  Colorado
  Massachusetts
  Hawaii
  Kansas

Using "Kentucky Rain" as an example, the name of the state can appear in the title, as long as it's not JUST in the chorus, and so long as the title isn't JUST the state name. In fact, the title doesn't have to include the name of the state at all.

Little help?

[silenus]

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynrd Skynrd

Ramblin' Man - Allman Brothers (Georgia)

Blue Hawai'i - Elvis

[ZipperJJ]

18. "Stuart" by the Dead Milkmen ("Take any city with a large, underground, homosexual population. Des Moines, Iowa. Perfect example.")

19. "Raise Up" by Petey Pablo ("If you from North Carolina, com'on and raise up. Take your shirt off twist it round yo' hand spin it like a helicopter")

20. "Rocky Raccoon" by the Beatles ("Down in the black hills of North Dakota lived a young man named Rocky Raccoon")

[FilmGeek]

Apparently there is a song called "You're Not in Kansas anymore" by Jo Dee Messina.

Also, there is the band, Kansas.

And that song from Oklahoma "everything's up to date in Kansas City", though they were talking about Missouri.

And Johnny Cash's "Wanted Man" might fit a LOT of different bills.

Wanted man in California,
Wanted man in Buffalo
Wanted man in Kansas City,
Wanted man in Ohio

Wanted man in Mississippi,
Wanted man in ol' Cheyenne

[FilmGeek]

The Missouri Waltz should get triple points. It's the state song, and it has the word pick-a-ninny in the lyrics.

Hush-a-bye, ma baby, slumber-time is coming soon
Rest yo’ head upon ma breast while Mammy hums a tune
The sandman is callin’ where shadows are fallin’,
While the soft breezes sigh as in days long gone by.
’Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody,
When I was a Pick-a-ninny on ma Mammy’s knee

South Dakota by Girlysound


Man I feel lucky tonight
I'm gonna get stoned and run around
Born in South Dakota
Hey we're going to a rodeo town
I'm gonna get drunk and fuck some cows

Born in South Dakota I was born in South Dakota
I was born in South Dakota

[Guinastasia]

Simon and Garfunkel's "America" ("Michigan seems like a dream to me now.")

And what about "Devil Went Down to Georgia", or "Georgia on My Mind"?

[Misnomer]

You already mentioned Billy Joel, so I'm surprised you didn't think of New York State of Mind.

(Or New York, New York, etc.)

[Rubystreak]

In the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil," there's:

"Ran into the Devil, babe, he loaned me twenty bills.
Spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills."

In Billy Joel's "Stop in Nevada":

"She left a little letter, said she's gonna make a stop in Nevada
Goodbye...goodbye."

In Simon & Garfunkel's "America":

"'Kathy,' I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh,
'Michigan seems like a dream to me now...'"

Here's two in Bruce Springsteen's song "Nebraska":

"From the town of Lincoln, Nebraska with a sawed-off .410 on my lap,
Through to the Badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path..."

[TJdude825]

Here's a song from the Animaniacs that lists all the states (and their capitals). I think the tune is "Turkey in the Straw." But that's probably cheating.

And there's "Going to California" by Led Zepellin, but you already got CA.

[TJdude825]

*rereads the OP and retracts post*

[Lute Skywatcher]

"City of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie. ("Illinois Central Monday monring rail")
"Portland, Oregon" by Loretta Lynn & Jack White mentions the state four times.
For Virginia there's the state song, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny".

[Fern Forest]

Originally Posted by silenus

Blue Hawai'i - Elvis

I like "My Hawaii" better but I forget who sang it. I think they started with an A. "In these Islands of Hawaii I'll return to find this dream divine."

I want to say "The Association" or "The Animals" but neither appears to be it.

[C3]

You missed three states in your list: Alaska, Rhode Island, and Maryland (I'm from Maryland, that's why I noticed).

I don't have any really good song suggestions, but the state song of Maryland is "Maryland, my Maryland" (sung to the same tune as "Oh, Christmas Tree" aka "O, Tannenbaum"). Also, isn't there a Counting Crows song that mentions Maryland? Or does it just talk about Baltimore? Does that count?

[Atticus Finch]

For Rhode Island, I would like to nominate "Road to Rhode Island" from Family Guy. ("We're off on the road to Rhode Island..." - Sung to the tune of "Road to Morocco")

[lee]

R Kelly
R (1998)
When A Woman's Fed Up

"what that woman meant to you
is what the mirror said to me whoa
she was raised in illinois
right outside of chicago
some of the best cookin' you ever had "

[SolGrundy]

There's a song called "North Dakotachrome" by a Davis, California band called "Lawsuit." It's all about puns on state names. Some of the lines:

"Who runs around when I'm lonely and bored?
Whose foot's on the clutch when the gas pedal's floored-a? (FLORIDA)"

"I got a note from Ish again (MICHIGAN), he says 'how are ya?' (HAWAII)"

"She said she knew him, sure, (NEW HAMPSHIRE), she new him back in OKLAHOMA."

"I knew your kind (NEW YORK), I dwell aware (DELAWARE),
But the MAINE thing's for me not to care
a line, a line (CAROLINA) can tuck you (KENTUCKY) into bed"

Maybe doesn't count for the OP, but it's a clever song.

[stuyguy]

There a great song called Rhode Island (Is Famous for You). It mentions a boatload of the states.

Here's a sample:

Copper comes from Arizona
Peaches come from Georgia
Lobsters come from Maine
The wheat fields are the sweet fields of Nebraska
And Kansas gets bonanzas from the grain

Ol' whiskey comes from ol' Kentucky
Ain't the country lucky?
New Jersey gives us glue
And you - you come from Rhode Island
And little ol' Rhode Island is famous for you


The whole thing can be found here.

[koeeoaddi]

Don't Take Me Alive - Steely Dan "I shot my old man back in Oregon..."

Walking Back to Georgia - Jim Croce

Steady On Shawn Colvin "It's like ten miles of two lane/On a South Dakota Wheat plain."

[SolGrundy]

And a real attempt at the list:

Alabama - traditional "Oh Susanna" ("Sweet Home Alabama" doesn't count because it's in the chorus.)
"I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee"

Vermont - "Sugarbush Cushman" by Poi Dog Pondering
"Sugarbush Cushman lived by the Ruud pond
Way up north in Barre Vermont"

[StarvingButStrong]

"North to Alaska" by Johnny Horton

"Massachusetts" by Bee Gees "when the lights all went out in Massachusetts"

[Superdude]

First of all, thanks for the suggestions. I'm writing them all down.

Regarding Nevada, I didn't use Stop In Nevada because the only time the name is mentioned is during that line, which is the title of the song. If he'd said Nevada somewhere else, without "Stop in" in front of it, I'd use it.

Same with New York, and New York State of Mind.

The Bee Gees' Massachusetts has the state, but that's it for the title. Too easy. No other words in the title.

Oh, and C3? Thanks for reminding me that St. Robinson In His Cadillac Dream by Counting Crows mentions Maryland.

[Lamar Mundane]

Rocky Mountain High, John Denver.

It is all about Colorado and mentions the state in the chorus.

[t-keela]

Try some Hank Williams Jr. songs. He mentions lots of places. In A Country Boy Can Survive He mentions Alabama, South Carolina, California, Mississippi, and New York.
Then there's Texas Women Others include Oklahoma, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and several more.

[Yllaria]

Then there's folk song that covers all the states: "Your State's Name, Here" listed on: this site as being by Lou and Peter Berryman

{Chorus:}
Oh [Your state's name here], oh [Again], what a state
I have not been back since [A reasonable date]
Where the asphalt grows soft in July every year
In the warm summer mornings of [Your state's name here]

I know, it's an aquired taste.

[Garfield226]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

And what about "Devil Went Down to Georgia", or "Georgia on My Mind"?

There is some dispute as to whether "Georgia On My Mind" was meant to refer to the state or to Hoagy Carmichael's sister, Georgia.

[gelid]

"All My Little Words," the Magnetic Fields--
"I could never make you stay
Not for all the tea in China,
Not if I could sing like a bird,
Not for all North Carolina,
Not for all my little words"

"Looking Out My Back Door," Creedence Clearwater Revival--
"Just got back from Illinois,
Lock the front door, oh boy,..."

"Unseen Power of the Picket Fence," Pavement--
"So let's go way back to the ancient times,
When there were no 50 states
And on a hill there stands Sherman,
Sherman and his mates,
And they're marching through Georgia...
And there stands R.E.M."

"The Pointless, yet Poignant, Crisis of a Co-Ed"--Dar Williams
"And I still write to my senators saying they should legalize cannabis
And I should know, cause I am a horticulturist,
I have a husband and two children out in Lexington, Mass."

Good luck with your list! Cheers!

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by silenus

Ramblin' Man - Allman Brothers (Georgia)

And there's Can't You See?, by the Marshall Tucker Band. We sure are set for Georgia, aren't we? Ramblin' Man also gets TN and, if you like, LA: "I'm on my way to New Orleans this morning, leavin' out of Nashville, Tennessee..."

In Blue Sky, also by the Allmans, you get "Goin' to Carolina, won't be long that I'll be there," which you could probably use to refer to either or both Carolinas.

I was wondering how many states Tori Amos covered in the lyrics to Scarlet's Walk, which is kind of a travelogue album. There are lots of cities, but only two states. New Mexico (in A Sorta Fairytale) and Virginia (song of the same name). And Mississippi in gets mentioned on a b-side.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, by The Band, mentions Tennessee.

For My Brother (Derek Trucks Band) starts "In the battle for the California sun." Though I'd mention that because I doubt anyone else knows that song, and I like that line.

[Ross]

What Did Delaware, Boys?

Mentions Delaware, New Jersey, Idaho, Maryland, Iowa ("Ioweigh"), Washington, Wiscon-sin, Nebraska ("New-brass-key"), Tennessee, Arkansaw, Florida ("Flora-die"), Missouri, Oregon, Oklahoma ("Oklahom"), California ("Califon-ya"), Hawaii ("Hawai-ya"), Mississippi ("Mississip" and Minnisota.

I'm pretty sure I've heard a version with Alaska in it too.

[N9IWP]

Well, Wisconsin's state song "On, Wisconsin!" doesn't JUST refer to the state in the title. That 70's show song ends with "Hello Wisconsin!"

You already have Minnesota, but another song that mentions it is Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" ("from the Lakes of Minnesota")

Brian

[Otto]

"I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" (unambiguous, non-punning Michigan reference)

[dbygawdcapn]

Gram Parson's "Hickory Wind" for South Carolina.
Doc Watson's "Tennessee Stud" for Arkansas.
Roger Miller's "King of the Road" for Maine.

[Scarlett67]

I know I'm not the only Doper who knows this song, which names all the states for you in one fell swoop:

Fifty Nifty United States

[Zabali_Clawbane]

Here are several songs that mention Kansas

Artist: Aaron Lines
Album: Living Out Loud
Title: She Called Me Kansas


This one has already been mentioned, but I thought I'd link the lyrics, they are accurate to a point.

Artist: Jo Dee Messina
Album: Jo Dee Messina
Title: You're Not In Kansas Anymore

Artist: Procol Harum
Album: A Salty Dog
Title: The Devil Came From Kansas

This next song's lyrics are also fitting, sadly.

Artist: Regina Regina
Album: Regina Regina
Title: Ticket Out Of Kansas

Here are a couple that mention Nevada.

Artist: Mark Knopfler
Album: Sailing To Philadelphia
Title: Sands Of Nevada

Artist: They Might Be Giants
Album: Unknown
Title: Nevada

I got the songs from this site.

[BiblioCat]

For another Maryland reference, you can always go with Springsteen's Hungry Heart.
"Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, I went out for a ride and I never went back..."

[StarvingButStrong]

We're getting a lot of duplicated states in the suggestions. How about an updated list from the OP of which states he still needs?

[John Corrado]

Also from Dar Williams- "When Sal's Burned Down"

"Cause there ain't no cowboys in this Connecticut town"

[Athena]

I was expecting Gordon Lightfoot's Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald to mention Michigan, but it does only in the context of Lake Michigan, whereas it mentions Wisconsin and Cleveland by name:

"The ship was the pride of the american side
Coming back from some mill in wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for cleveland"

The only mention of anything Michigan-y (which is where the ship sank) is the following reference to Whitefish Bay:

"Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searches all say they’d have made whitefish bay
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her."

Oh wait, one more refence I just found, to Detroit of all places, which barely counts as Michigan :

"In a musty old hall in detroit they prayed,
In the maritime sailors’ cathedral."

[Sean Factotum]

Originally Posted by FilmGeek

South Dakota by Girlysound

Are you sure that wasn't by Liz Phair, originally on her Girlysound demos, and then re-recorded for the Juvenelia EP?

[BadBadger]

Don't forget Midnight Train to georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips

He's leavin'
on that midnight train to Georgia
Said he's goin' back to find
the simpler place and time


So, who you missing now?

[Thudlow Boink]

State Songs by John Linnell (of They Might Be Giants)

[Ike Witt]

IIRC, Wakko's America has every state in it.

[congodwarf]

How about Whoever's in New England by Reba. It talks about Massachusetts.

Head's Carolina, Tails California JoDee Messina mentions obviously Carolina and California. She doesn't specify which Carolina. Also mentioned are Boston and Des Moines but you didn't say anything about cities.

[congodwarf]

There's also Forty Hour Week (for a living) by Alabama. Kansas, West Virginia and some cities are mentioned. By the same band there's also I'f You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band). This song mentions Texas and Louisiana.

[Superdude]

Keep 'em coming, guys! Here's what I need:

1) Nebraska (I used the Springsteen song for Wyoming)
2) New Hampshire
3) Delaware (I'd like to avoid the "What Did Delaware" song if I can help it)
4) Missouri
5) Virginia
6) Hawaii

[jk1245]

There's a song called "Cadillac Ranch" by little known indie artist Bruce Springsteen that has the line

"Little girl in the blue jeans so tight
Ridin off into the Wisconsin night."


Someone (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band?) remade this and changed it to "Colorado Night".
Rat-bastards.

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by Superdude

Keep 'em coming, guys! Here's what I need:

1) Nebraska (I used the Springsteen song for Wyoming)
2) New Hampshire
3) Delaware (I'd like to avoid the "What Did Delaware" song if I can help it)
4) Missouri
5) Virginia
6) Hawaii

Unless I missed something in the rules, I think the Tori song I mentioned should count for Virginia. It's mentioned a couple of times in the lyrics, and it avoids the 'only in the chorus' rule because there doesn't seem to be a chorus. The first line is "in the lush virginia hills," and I'm sure if there's a chorus, the first line wouldn't be it.

[Lute Skywatcher]

"Honolulu Lulu" by Godley & Creme ("Aloha, it's Honolulu Lulu from Hawaii")
"The Great Nebraska Sea" by Blake Hodgetts ("On October 4, North Platte, Nebraska plummeted eight feet")
"You Came a Long Way From St. Louis" by Marvin Gaye ("Well, baby, I got news for you, I'm from Missouri too.")

[Quercus]

Can I just ask: do you care that the song you have for New Jersey is about (and named for) a Pennsylvania city?

Not that there's any shortage of songs mentioning Jersey, of course.

[Lute Skywatcher]

"Square from Delaware" by Fats Waller

[Homebrew]

Lyle Lovett, That's Right (You're Not From Texas)

"They’re OK in Oklahoma
Up in Arkansas they’re fair
But those old folks in Missouri
They don’t even know you’re there"

That song also mentions Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Carolina (but not specificially North or South)