# 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:** 4
**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, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/61 "2015-06-29T14:21:03Z")
ZZTop’s “LaGrange” was about the Chicken Ranch, a world-famous brothel in the town of LaGrange, Texas. “Rumors speading around that Texas town, About that shack outside LaGrange. (And y’all know what I’m talking about!) Just let me know if you wanna go To that home out on the range. (They got a lot of nice girls.)” ---
**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, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/62 "2015-06-29T14:34:55Z")
For New Jersey, there’s always Bruce Springsteen. “Now, everything dies, baby. That’s a fact. But maybe everything that dies someday comes back Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/63 "2015-06-29T14:40:05Z")
**Eastbound and Down** - Jerry Reed _The boys are thirsty in **Atlanta** and there’s beer in **Texarkana** and we’ll bring it back no matter what it takes!_ (Hey, I didn’t say it was a _good_ rhyme.) ---
**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, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/64 "2015-06-29T14:40:26Z")
Does the city name itself have to be part of the rhyme, or is it okay if the rhyme actiually comes from the state? I ask because of Skynyrd’s “What’s Your Name?” It starts off: _**Well, it’s 8 o’clock in Boise, Idaho. I find my limo driver. "Mister, take us to the show."**_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/65 "2015-06-29T14:58:46Z")
**Big River** - Johnny Cash I met her accidentally in **St. Paul** (Minnesota). And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern **drawl**. Then I heard my dream was back Downstream **cavortin** ’ in **Davenport** , And I followed you, Big River, when you called. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/66 "2015-06-29T21:59:31Z")
This may be skirting the rules a bit, as it refers to a non-American city, but since there is also an American city in IA with the same name, I’m slipping it in. But gosh darn you people for putting this darn earworm in my head this afternoon! It popped in there while reading this category and it won’t go away! Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more Waterloo - Couldn’t escape if I wanted to Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo Waterloo - ABBA ---
**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 29, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/67 "2015-06-29T22:08:16Z")
“Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” - Lucinda Williams - Sittin’ in the kitchen a house in Macon Loretta’s singing on the radio Smell of coffee eggs and bacon \* “Jackson” - Lucinda Williams - Once I get to Lafayette I’m not gonna mind one little bit Once I get to Baton Rouge I won’t cry a tear for you\* ---
**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 29, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/68 "2015-06-29T22:19:14Z")
“Greenville to Baton Rouge” - Drive-By Truckers \*Greenville to Baton Rouge I’ll call you up when I get through The life I live is the life I choose Greenville to Baton Rouge \* ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/69 "2015-06-29T23:56:45Z")
_As we passed by Big Al’s drive-in, his eyes began to flash He was leaving Rapid City mighty fast He said "I hope to God she finds the goodbye letter that I wrote her But the mail don’t move so fast in Rapid City, South Dakota_ Kinky Friedman ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/70 "2015-06-30T00:07:08Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > “Greenville to Baton Rouge” - Drive-By Truckers > > \*Greenville to Baton Rouge > I’ll call you up when I get through > The life I live is the life I choose > Greenville to Baton Rouge > \* Operator won’t you put me on through gotta send my love down to Baton Rouge Garth Brooks, Callin’ Baton Rouge ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/71 "2015-06-30T00:20:46Z")
Comin’ in to Los Angeles Bringing in a couple of keys Don’t touch my bags if you please Mr Customs Man It helps when you pronounce Los Angeles and Los Angeleez. ---
**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 30, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/72 "2015-06-30T01:22:53Z")
Third Boxcar, midnight train Destination, Bangor, Maine Also Neil Young Oh Aaaaaal- Buh–Querque No Rhyme, but bravura anyway ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/73 "2015-06-30T02:23:07Z")
Bristol, PA [Bristol Stomp](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POwJNsb7g64) - The Dovells The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol When they do the Bristol Stomp (…“sharp as a _pistol_?”) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/74 "2015-06-30T02:38:45Z")
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - Bob Dylan: I’ll look for you in old **Honolulu** San Francisco, **Ashtabula** ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/75 "2015-06-30T03:07:30Z")
States (plus DC) so far: Massachusetts Indiana Colorado Maine Nevada California Alabama Missouri Oklahoma Alaska New York Florida Louisiana Connecticut Pennsylvania Georgia Arkansas Illinois New Jersey Kentucky Michigan Tennessee Kansas Texas Mississippi D.C. Minnesota South Dakota Iowa Ohio Nebraska New Hampshire Oregon Washington Arizona New Jersey Hawaii And I didn’t count that damned “I’ve Been Everywhere” song, because it’s cheating. ---
**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 30, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/76 "2015-06-30T03:38:56Z")
So I drifted on down to Tulsa, Oklahoma To do me a late night talk show Now I worked my way down home again, via Boise, Idaho WOLD Harry Chapin ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/77 "2015-06-30T03:43:11Z")
Does not rhyme the city name, though. Has no songwriter thought to rhyme “Boise” with “noisy?” ---
**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 30, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/78 "2015-06-30T04:35:37Z")
And the record man said every one is a yellow sun Record from Nashville And up north there ain’t nobody buys them And I said, “But I Will” Lovin Spoonful. Funny part is it’s wrong. How did John Sebastian think Sun records was in Nashville Now as I turn life a page To the land of the great Osage In those Oklahoma hills where I was born, While the black oil it rolls and flows And the snow-white cotton grows In those Oklahoma hills where I was born. Woody and Jack Guthrie ---
**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 30, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/79 "2015-06-30T04:49:39Z")
I’ve gambled down in the town of Newport News The more I gamble, boys, the more I lose Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Woody Guthrie ---
**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 30, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-use-city-names-as-a-rhyme-and-is-there-one-for-every-state/723629/80 "2015-06-30T05:02:09Z")
Wanted man in Albuquerque, Wanted man in Syracuse Wanted man in Tallahassee, Wanted man in Baton Rouge There’s somebody set to grab me Anywhere that I might be And wherever you might look tonight You might get a glimpse of me 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 Wherever you might look tonight you might see this wanted man Bob Dylan Think that’s Wyoming and New Mexico to add [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=3) [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=5)