# Songs that use city names as a rhyme (and is there one for every state?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629 "2015-06-27T15:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/41 "2015-06-27T23:45:27Z")
“Operator, operator, put me through to Decatur…” The version I’m familiar with was by Pork and the Havana Ducks (a central Illinois staple back in the day) but I don’t know if that was the original. I also don’t know which Decatur it was written about; according to Wikipedia there are fifteen cities by that name in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/42 "2015-06-27T23:53:56Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Side issue: Which **Jackson** are Johnny and June singing about in [this one?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3NJC18Oi04) > > Tennessee or Mississippi or what? > [@](#): > > There has been much speculation regarding which Jackson the song is about; but, according to Wheeler, “Actually, I didn’t have a specific Jackson in mind. I just liked the sharp consonant sound, as opposed to soft-sounding words like Nashville.”[3] Though Wheeler had no particular Jackson in mind when writing the song, subsequent recordings have narrowed attributions to Jackson, Tennessee: The previous source also quotes Charlie Daniels as having recorded “Jackson” with these lines, “I ain’t talking 'bout Jackson, Mississippi. I’m talking 'bout Jackson, Tennessee”.[3] And, Johnny Cash is quoted in the video from the same source: “Well, I was gonna take her down to see Carl Perkins in Jackson.”[3] Carl Perkins lived in Jackson, Tennessee Looks like Tennessee is the winner. (From the Wiki for the song) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/43 "2015-06-27T23:56:28Z")
Good job, **jimbuff314** 🙂 Makes good sense to me. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/44 "2015-06-28T00:05:14Z")
“The heart of rock n roll is still beatin’ In Cleveland…” - Huey Lewis & The News I have read that there were different city names in the song in different markets but I have only heard it in Cleveland 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 28, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/45 "2015-06-28T00:15:40Z")
Oh yeah, “Heart of Rock n Roll” also rhymes “Baton Rouge” with “too”. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/46 "2015-06-28T02:30:10Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Now the first of December was covered with snow > and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston. > > There was a girl in Portland Completely unrelated trivia, since you mentioned both Boston and Portland in the OP: How Portland, OR got it’s name, from Wikipedia: “This community was initially referred to as “Stumptown” and “The Clearing” because of the many trees being cut down to allow for its growth. In 1843 William Overton saw potential in the new settlement but lacked the funds necessary to file an official land claim. For 25 cents Overton agreed to share half of the 640-acre site with Asa Lovejoy of Boston. Two years later Overton sold his remaining half of the claim to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, Maine. Both Pettygrove and Lovejoy wished to rename “The Clearing” after their respective hometowns. In 1845 this controversy was settled with a coin toss which Pettygrove won in a series of two out of three tosses, thereby providing Portland with its namesake.” ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/47 "2015-06-28T02:49:51Z")
“Little green apples” sort of kinda rhymes with “Indianapolis”. I guess “Lodi” and “again” don’t at all. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/48 "2015-06-28T03:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > 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 Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald > [@](#): > > Omaha, oh you’ve been weighin’ heavy on my mind > Guess, I never really left it all > I’m turnin’ all those roads, I walked around the other way > Coming back to you Omaha -Omaha (I’m guessing it’s supposed to be a rhyme for ‘all’) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/49 "2015-06-28T03:41:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Back To Tupelo - Mark Knopfler > > Porch Swing in Tupelo - Elton John (!) The Boy From Tupelo (“He’s the king and he oughta know”), Emmylou Harris ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/50 "2015-06-28T03:46:05Z")
If parodies count, and they may have to, “Granite State of Mind” for New Hampshire: Now I’m down in Manchester Next to Adam Sandler But I’ll be woods forever I’m the new Salinger WHEN THIS SONG MAKES ME RICH, I’M A MOVE TO RYE EVERYBODY PUMP YOUR FISTS AND YELL LIVE FREE OR DIE! LIVE FREE OR DIE! [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GYLM1SB3aA) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/51 "2015-06-28T04:09:26Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > The Boy From Tupelo (“He’s the king and he oughta know”), Emmylou Harris “Tupelo” - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds _O ma-ma rock your lil’ one slow O God help Tupelo! O God help Tupelo! Mama rock your lil’ one slow The lil one will walk on Tupelo The lil one will walk on Tupelo_ ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/52 "2015-06-28T04:29:54Z")
1- is someone going to keep track of which states have been checked. 2- There was a song called High School Hop which i think had a version for many markets. I am familiar with the one around Boston. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/53 "2015-06-28T04:36:17Z")
Thats’ Tommy Facenda High School U.S.A. there was 28 versions. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/54 "2015-06-28T06:11:23Z")
“I’m spending Hannukah in Santa Monica”. and later ’ I’m spending Rosh Hoshanna in Santa Ana." Tom Lehrer, I think. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/55 "2015-06-28T16:29:54Z")
This one is going to be obscure: _Livin’ In [Tualatin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tualatin,_Oregon)_ (Oregon) by [Mighty Good Eatin’](http://pnwbands.com/mightygoodeatin.html). IIRC: _Livin’ In Tualatin Wonderin’ What the hell I’m doin’_ (A whole lot of elidin’ going on there.) Much better rhyme than the attempts with “Portland”. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/56 "2015-06-28T18:27:13Z")
Tom Waits And nobody flinched down by the arcade And the burglar alarm’s been disconnected, And the newsmen start to rattle And the cops are telling jokes about some whorehouse in Seattle Steve Miller Band I went from Phoenix, Arizona All the way to Tacoma Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A. Northern California where the girls are warm So I could be with my sweet baby, yeah the second one is a twofer ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/57 "2015-06-28T20:03:09Z")
long distance information give me Memphis Tennessee help me find the party tried to get in touch with me… Does this count? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/58 "2015-06-28T20:10:44Z")
HonoLulu Lulu …pink gardenia Its the little old lady from pasadena San Jose I been away so long I might go wrong and lose my way ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/59 "2015-06-29T02:34:13Z")
Tupelo also mentioned in Ode To Billie Joe: _A year has come and gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe And brother married Becky Thompson; they bought a store in Tupelo_ Also rhymes Choctaw Ridge with Tallahatchie Bridge. Is Choctaw Ridge a city or just a geographic place? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/60 "2015-06-29T14:16:26Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit…” You mean… Windsor, Ontario? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629.md?page=4)