# Has every state been mentioned in popular music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740 "2002-05-13T03:47:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/41 "2002-05-13T20:41:24Z")
More from Billy Joel: “Home can be the **Pennsylvania** Turnpike, or **Indiana’s** early morning dew. . .” -from “You’re My Home” “. . .I know a woman in **New Mexico**. . .” -from “Worst Comes To Worst” And if you want to add show tunes, there’s “Gary, Indiana” from _The Music Man_ and _Meet Me in St. Louis_ from the eponymous musical (as long as you’re counting a mention of a city as a mention of a state, which seems to be the case here). The complete list of locations in Bobby Troup’s song “Route 66” mentions four states and a bunch of cities: The second verse contains the lyrics, “It winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way.” The verse everybody thinks of is this one: “It goes through St. Louis; Joplin, **Missouri** **Oklahoma** City is oh so pretty! You’ll see Amarillo, Gallup, **New Mexico** , Flagstaff, **Arizona** , don’t forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino. . .” Louis Prima wrote a song called “Anywhere in **Texas** , RFD” which mentions a bunch of cities and states (including their pre-1962 postal zones), but my CD is at home and I don’t remember which ones are in the lyrics. Zap! Who is having a slow day at work, can you tell? ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/42 "2002-05-13T22:06:14Z")
Illinois - “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (“Just got back from Illinois/Lock the front door, oh boy!” “Ben McCulloch” by Steve Earle gives us Missouri, Arkansas and Texas: "We signed up in San Antone my brother Paul and me To fight with Ben McCulloch and the Texas infantry… Well they marched us to Missouri and we hardly stopped for rest… Well they told us that our enemy would all be dressed in blue They forgot about the winter’s cold and the cursed fever too My brother died at Wilson’s creek and Lord I seen him fall We fell back to the Boston Mountains in the North of Arkansas" “Three Button Hand Me Down” by the Faces mentions Boston, Houston and Detroit, and gives us Oklahoma by name: “I don’t need no one’s opinion On the matter concerning my dress. I was raised in a clinic down in Oklahoma, There were many things I did not possess.” I know there are some obvious ones I’m forgetting right now… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/43 "2002-05-13T23:27:18Z")
Ah! “Dear Doctor” by the Rolling Stones: “I’m down in Virginia with your cousin Luke And there’ll be no wedding today.” “Oregon Hill” by Cowboy Junkies “The Thing at the End of New Hampshire Avenue” by John Fahey ---
**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:** [May 14, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/44 "2002-05-14T00:30:59Z")
These two states have already been mentioned under other song titles, but … Roger MIller’s “King of the Road” (“Third boxcar, midnight train. Destination: Bangor, **Maine** ”) Frank Zappa’s “ **Montana** ” (“Movin’ to Montana soon, Gonna be a Dental Floss tycoon”). ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/45 "2002-05-14T01:32:26Z")
A few years ago the local NPR station was going through all the states and playing a song either about it or in which the state was mentioned. With the help of their listeners they were able to come up with something for every state except… Connecticut! A four hour show and no one could come up with a song about Connecticut. They finally did a song about Yale and called it close enough. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/46 "2002-05-14T01:37:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bnorton \* > \*\*A few years ago the local NPR station was going through all the states and playing a song either about it or in which the state was mentioned. With the help of their listeners they were able to come up with something for every state except… Connecticut! A four hour show and no one could come up with a song about Connecticut. They finally did a song about Yale and called it close enough. \*\* Damn, at least give the people [Brass Bonanza](http://www.brassbonanza.com/Sound/), the unofficial state song, Yankee Doodle being the official one. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/47 "2002-05-14T01:45:40Z")
_Rock & Roll Music_ by **Boston** _Playing for a week in **Rhode Island** , A man came to the stage one night. . ._ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/48 "2002-05-14T02:11:04Z")
There was a _stupid_ song recorded sometime in the early sixties I think. We had to sing it in junior high chorus class, I forget who originally recorded it but it was titled “Fifty Nifty United States” and part of the (ugh) “lyrics” were the names of all fifty states in alphabetical order. Well, I do say ugh, but for some reason the song stayed with me, and in trivia contests it can come in handy to be able to do what the song does. ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Second\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Echo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/49 "2002-05-14T06:40:20Z")
There’s also an older novelty tune that names darn near all the states, though perhaps not Alaska and Hawaii as I remember the last line of the song makes a reference to 48. Anyway, the chorus goes: “Who knows the answer To this mystery If Texas told What Arkansas, Then what did Tennessee?” The song is filled with such plays on state names such as “If Utah bothered Alabama, then who would Illinois?/If Washing weighs a ton, then how much does I-O weigh?” Unfortunately I have no idea who the artist is who what the title is. Google doesn’t seem to be of much help. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/50 "2002-05-14T09:48:28Z")
I’ve got another one for **Washington** : The Offspring - Walla Walla Referring to the state prison, in Walla Walla, Washington An excerpt: “Hey, in Walla, I’ll see you in-a Walla Walla, slap on the wrist well not this time, hey in Walla, I’ll see you in-a Walla Walla, Fullsome Prison is the Destination.” ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/51 "2002-05-14T22:09:51Z")
We could make one up. Let’s do Connecticut! Connecticut Connecticut Bo Bonnecticut Banana Fana Fo Fonnecticut Fe Fi Mo Monecticut. Connecticut! ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/52 "2002-05-20T14:16:53Z")
What? Two pages and no [www.allmusic.com](http://www.allmusic.com) searches? By my count, there are 107 different song titles (not saying some of them aren’t different songs with the same title) that include “Texas”. “California” and “New York” count 104 each (These three states appear to have the largest counts.) Low-count (\<= 10) states include: Vermont (3), Connecticut (5), Delaware (5), New Hampshire (5), Massachusetts (5), Wisconsin (6), Nebraska (8), Maine (8), Maryland (9), New Mexico (9), and Idaho (10). ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/53 "2002-05-26T21:00:09Z")
**New Hampshire** - _Old New Hampshire_ It’s now one of our _nine_, yes nine state songs, but it was a popular tune before that. Don’t get me started about the state flower! Better known perhaps is _New Hampshire, Naturally_ by the Shaw brothers. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/54 "2002-05-27T15:09:46Z")
massachusetts: **lowell, ma** - death cab for cutie **a new found interest in massachusetts** - the get up kids (or the alternate version, **newfound, mass** ) new york: **cali to ny** - black eyed peas **new york city cops** - the strokes **new york** - u2 **hudson, ny** - lo tel **coney island** - death cab for cutie **no sleep til brooklyn** - the beastie boys **angel of harlem** - u2 maryland: **(don’t go back to) rockville** - r.e.m. tennessee: **tennessee** - arrested development **memphis train blues** - r.e.m. louisiana: **new orleans wins the war** - randy newman **new orleans instrumental no 1** - r.e.m. florida: **it doesn’t snow in florida** - new found glory wisconsin: **wisconsin** - samiam michigan: **ann arbor** - the get up kids (michigan) ohio: **cuyahoga** - r.e.m. kansas: **campfire kansas** - the get up kids nevada: **all the way to reno** - r.e.m. california: **californication** - the red hot chili peppers **san dimas high school football rules** - the ataris ---
**Author:** ![Ripple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@Ripple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ripple)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/55 "2002-05-27T18:32:53Z")
Tennessee, Tennessee There ain’t no place I’d rather be Baby, won’t you carry meeeeeeee Back to Tennessee _The Grateful Dead_ ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/56 "2002-05-28T20:00:54Z")
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned _Oklahoma!_, the title song from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/57 "2002-05-28T21:46:37Z")
**Virginia:** Blessid Union of Souls had a single “[Oh, Virginia](http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1556143653/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/artistid=BLESSID+UNION+OF+SOULS/itemid=1329228)” on the charts about five years back. And it was definitely about the Commonwealth, not a woman. **Minnesota:** Weird Al, “[Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota](http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1556143653/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/artistid=YANKOVIC*WEIRD+AL/itemid=637454)”. Twine ball or bust! Weird Al does another **Idaho** song - “Addicted to Spuds”: _You took a trip to Idaho just to watch potatoes grow_ **bibliophage** , you beat me to Frank Zappa’s “Montana”, but what the hey: _By myself I wouldn’t have no boss 'cause I’d be raising my lonely dental floss_ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740/58 "2002-05-29T05:06:20Z")
Wasn’t there a song called “The New York, New Haven and Hartford”, after the much-traveled train route? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-state-been-mentioned-in-popular-music/108740.md?page=2)