# Does Every US State Have A State Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085 "2002-11-22T03:33:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/1 "2002-11-22T03:33:10Z")
Just wondering if every US State has a State song. You’d think it should. If so, what is the song for NJ? I know…many one-liners come to mind here as I pose this leading question. But, seriously… - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/2 "2002-11-22T03:40:50Z")
Google does wonders, ya know. 🙂 Having typed in “new jersey state song” I found [here](http://www.50states.com/newjerse.htm) that the song is “I’m From New Jersey” Yup. You can find the lyrics [here](http://www.50states.com/songs/newjerse.htm). (Don’t worry about the New Jersey one-liner. I think the state song does it better than you ever could.) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/3 "2002-11-22T03:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jinx \* > **Just wondering if every US State has a State song.**. > > Yes, each state has at least one. Tennesseans have no fewer than six options to choose from. > > \*\*If so, what is the song for NJ? - Jinx \*\* “I’m from New Jersey”. Check out the full list here: > **[50 U.S. State Songs](https://www.50states.com/songs/)** > > Directory of Official US State songs ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/4 "2002-11-22T03:57:42Z")
California’s official state dance is the West Coast Swing. ---
**Author:** ![markdiscordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@markdiscordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdiscordia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/5 "2002-11-22T04:05:26Z")
Virginia retired “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia” in 1997 due to racially questionable lyrics. A new song was supposed to be named by 2001, but none has yet been selected. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/6 "2002-11-22T05:17:59Z")
Virginia’s song–sheesh. Never saw the lyrics before. I’d say they’re questionable, although it’s a pretty enough song and the lyrics, horrid as they are, paint a lovely word picture. I used to work for the state of MA, and our song dates from the 1930s. What happens is that usually some schoolchildren or some sweet old lady proposes the song and it becomes the pet project of some legislator or committee. It’s very informal and everybody votes for it (it slips in as one of dozens of bills debated each day) unless somebody else has a pet song, then there’s usually a performance of the song at a press conference and the rest of the legislature glances at each other and purses their lips trying not to laugh. YSLMV. It’s a lousy song and very hard to actually sing. Poor Marsh ran out of lyrics towards the end and you have to go: It’s M-A-S-S-A-C-H-U-S-E-T-T-S. All hail to Massachusetts! All hail! All hail! All hail! The State Folk Song, ‘Massachusetts’ is by Arlo Guthrie and is pretty great. There’s also a State March and a State Jingle, which is more like a sung slogan. When I worked there, it was "The Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America’ which actually was singable, although not very quickly. This suceeded ‘Make it in Massachusetts’ which spawned the obvious parodies. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/7 "2002-11-22T05:36:17Z")
I think that Maine’s state song is “Maniac” from **Flashdance**. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/8 "2002-11-22T06:37:32Z")
An Okie here. Guess what our song is? Only one guess and you’d better be picturing a surrey with fringe on top. hint: we’re OK ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/9 "2002-11-22T12:02:14Z")
Hmmmm, I think I’ll have me some of that sweet smelling waving wheat for breakfast. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/10 "2002-11-22T14:31:33Z")
There is some controversy in Maryland regarding our State song. Some say it’s racist, others say it’s our history so keep it. Lyrics can be found [here](http://www.50states.com/songs/maryland.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/11 "2002-11-22T15:15:27Z")
Now where did I hear the state song for New Jersey was Born to Run?! I swear I heard it somewhere. Well, Kentucky’s state song, like Oklahoma’s, is a real no-brainer. The sun shines bright … and now it’s summer and the PEOPLE are gay. Thank heavens for that. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/12 "2002-11-22T16:08:54Z")
“It’s a death trap, a suicide rap, we gotta get out while we’re young…” Makes perfect sense to me. Possibly the best rock song with a glockenspiel. Kind of like using _Born in the USA_ as a campaign song. FWIW Arizona has [\*The Arizona March](http://www.50states.com/songs/arizona.htm)\* \ Ain’t _that_ a frickin’ toe tapper. I’m going to lobby for changing it to _Hey Jealousy_ by the Gin Blossoms. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/13 "2002-11-22T18:07:01Z")
Note that some states have a state _anthem_ (old slow funeral dirge-like tune) and a state _song_ (a recent pop tune that may or not not mention the state, usually with not-always-appropriate lyrics). If you do crossword puzzles you have to know this. Some idiot politician in NJ once _proposed_ making BTR the state song. Robert Wuhl had a great routine making fun of this idea. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/14 "2002-11-22T18:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duckster \* > \*\*(Don’t worry about the New Jersey one-liner. I think the state song does it better than you ever could.) \*\* Does not. It never once says **What exit?** 😃 I’m rather disappointed that my home state of Pennsylvania bowed to peer pressure and got itself an official state song. At least they could have made it something fun… EVERYBODY POLKA! ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/15 "2002-11-22T18:51:00Z")
Is it just me or do the lyrics for the last two verses of “You Are My Sunshine” (state song of Louisiana) seem rather out of place with the rest of the song? Yes I know Jimmy Davis was the Governor of the state…but still they sound more then a little…odd… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/16 "2002-11-22T19:23:59Z")
Here’s [all of them](http://www.50states.com/songs/stsongs.htm). ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/17 "2002-11-23T00:01:40Z")
[hijack] You know how in church you sometimes sing a two-syllable word as one syllable in order to try to preserve the meter of the song? Like this: > [@](#): > > “…blah blah blah be all glory **giv’n** ” Well, if you do that with the word “flowing” and pronounce it as one syllable, sort of like “floing” (as in Gerald McBoing Boing), then the state song of Illinois has exactly the same meter as the great hymn _Jesus Saves!_ > [@](#): > > "We have heard the joyful sound. Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves! > Spread the tidings all around. Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves! > Bear the news to ev’ry land. Climb the steps and cross the waves. > Onward 'tis our Lord’s command. Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves! > [@](#): > > By thy rivers gently floing. Illinois, Illinois! > O’er thy prairies verdant groing. Illinois, Illinois! > Comes an echo on the breeze, > Ruffling through the leafy trees. > And its mellow tones are these. Illinois, (Illinios!) Freaking amazing. Maybe I’ll tell our church music director about this sometime… [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/18 "2002-11-23T00:34:04Z")
After a measure to name “Born to Run” the official theme song of New Jersey was defeated, that state’s assembly did name it the “unofficial youth anthem of New Jersey.” > **[Entertainment News, Celebrity News, Celebrity Gossip - E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/)** > > Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! Also in the biography “Born to Run” IIRC ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/19 "2002-11-23T04:50:01Z")
Ah, thank you Furt! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-have-a-state-song/138085/20 "2002-11-26T20:41:25Z")
New Jersey does not have a state song. The man who wrote _I’m From New Jersey_, “Red” Mascara, has tried for years to get state legislators to approve it as the official state song of New Jersey, but so far, he’s been unsuccessful. Too bad, it’s a catchy tune.