# Best U.S. state-oriented songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962 "2010-10-04T01:12:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/41 "2010-10-04T15:14:43Z")
I’m not from Wisconsin but I’ve always liked the song [I’m Living in Wisconsin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JidN4T3Wxi0) by the Dead Milkmen. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/42 "2010-10-04T15:40:04Z")
Randy Newman - [Louisiana 1927](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Eb3FiebTs) ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/43 "2010-10-04T16:03:48Z")
An oldie but goody, _[Indiana Wants Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaQZcK_IS40)_. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/44 "2010-10-04T16:28:07Z")
There’s _Midnight Train to Georgia_, which may or may not count… but it does have my home state in the title, so there. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/45 "2010-10-04T16:57:55Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > Randy Newman - [Louisiana 1927](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Eb3FiebTs) Psst - post 28. Although the song is definitely good enough to mention twice. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/46 "2010-10-04T17:36:11Z")
“I Owe a Lot to Iowa Pot” by Napoleon XIV. (Sorry, couldn’t find it on Youtube.) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/47 "2010-10-04T17:38:44Z")
My top 4 choices have been taken (Midnight Train to Georgia, Country Roads, Sweet Home Alabama, and Blue Moon of Kentucky, in that order). So I’ll mention my number 5: [I want to be in Michigan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gldUMTgU3wU&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/48 "2010-10-04T17:59:02Z")
James Taylor “Carolina in my Mind” ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/49 "2010-10-04T18:15:18Z")
(Why, Oh, Why, Oh, Did I Ever Leave) Ohio? From _Wonderful Town_, (1953), lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green; music by Leonard Bernstein. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDk4Y1q_IFA) ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/50 "2010-10-04T18:31:35Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > _Rhode Island is Famous for You_ by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, from the 1948 Broadway revue _Inside U.S.A._ Witty and charming. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCqvU4KjKqQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCqvU4KjKqQ) Came in to mention this one. John Pizzarelli does a great version of this. In addition, also from the John Pizzarelli catalog, is “I Like Jersey Best”. A humorous take on what makes New Jersey great, it’s perfectly suited to Pizzarelli’s vaudevillean style. I’ve seen him do this live, and the imitations he works in to the song are hilarious. You can get a sense of this from the recording of the song on his “Live at Birdland” CD. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/51 "2010-10-04T18:38:13Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > [State of Love & Trust](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2XtoypGap8) - Pearl Jam > > …oh wait, that song isn’t about Washington state anymore than Born in the USA is about celebrating America. > > has anyone ever done a good Connecticut song? Jesus H. Christ and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have a song called, “Connecticut’s for fucking” ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/52 "2010-10-05T00:48:00Z")
Jersey Girl, by Tom Waits. Also recorded by Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/53 "2010-10-05T01:04:17Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > > [@Sigmagirl](#): > > > > _Rhode Island is Famous for You_ by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, from the 1948 Broadway revue _Inside U.S.A._ Witty and charming. > > > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCqvU4KjKqQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCqvU4KjKqQ) > > Came in to mention this one. John Pizzarelli does a great version of this. > In addition, also from the John Pizzarelli catalog, is “I Like Jersey Best”. A humorous take on what makes New Jersey great, it’s perfectly suited to Pizzarelli’s vaudevillean style. I’ve seen him do this live, and the imitations he works in to the song are hilarious. You can get a sense of this from the recording of the song on his “Live at Birdland” CD. His Billie Holiday is even funnier than his Dylan! ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/54 "2010-10-05T01:11:41Z")
It wasn’t a big radio hit, but I always really loved Sara Evans’ “Missing Missouri.” Especially the bridge. ‘Tobacco fields, an’ bumblebees, an’ the Cardinals playin’ on TV…’ ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/55 "2010-10-05T03:32:58Z")
Hotel California ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/56 "2010-10-05T03:49:01Z")
[Texas (When I Die)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN4rC4s9Aus) - Tanya Tucker [All My Ex’s Live In Texas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMNw_-yUm_0) - George Strait ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/57 "2010-10-05T03:53:08Z")
Indiana Wants Me ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/58 "2010-10-05T08:23:33Z")
Oh, Way Down on the Suwannee River. Very Cracker. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/59 "2010-10-05T08:32:17Z")
Although, I think Yankee [Stephen Foster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Foster) rocked for his genre and time. ---
**Author:** ![pyromyte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d26b3c/32.png) [@pyromyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pyromyte)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962/60 "2010-10-05T13:51:49Z")
Speaking of Stephen Foster: [_My Old Kentucky Home_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Old_Kentucky_Home) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-u-s-state-oriented-songs/555962.md?page=4)