# Which States have the most and least songs written about them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2012, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130 "2012-03-18T11:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/1 "2012-03-18T11:50:48Z")
I would have thought that California and New York would be pretty near the top. I’m not sure I can remember any song referencing Rhode Island or even Alaska. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/2 "2012-03-18T11:54:45Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > I would have thought that California and New York would be pretty near the top. I’m not sure I can remember any song referencing Rhode Island or even Alaska. Johnny Horton, [North to Alaska](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSt0NEESrUA) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/3 "2012-03-18T12:00:56Z")
Much to my surprise, we have a [state song](http://www.50states.com/songs/rdisl.htm). Probably all the others have one too. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/4 "2012-03-18T12:03:41Z")
Texas would probably be up there. Texans love to sing about Texas or listen to songs about Texas. Delaware would have to be near the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/5 "2012-03-18T13:27:32Z")
Kansas may have a lot of songs associated with it, (“Over the Rainbow” anyone?) but right offhand I can’t remember any that speak of it specifically. Our state song is “Home on the Range”, and the word “Kansas” does not appear in it. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/6 "2012-03-18T13:33:16Z")
“[Rhode Island is Famous for You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig2daWp-Pls)” by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, also known for “That’s Entertainment” and “Dancing in the Dark,” among a host of others. Here performed by the great Blossom Dearie. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/7 "2012-03-18T14:51:52Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Kansas may have a lot of songs associated with it, (“Over the Rainbow” anyone?) but right offhand I can’t remember any that speak of it specifically. > > Our state song is “Home on the Range”, and the word “Kansas” does not appear in it. [Kansas, My Kansas](http://www.calonsong.org/KansasSongs/kansasmykansas.htm) mmm ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/8 "2012-03-18T15:12:20Z")
A cursory Googling makes a strong case for Texas as the most. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/9 "2012-03-18T15:37:47Z")
Maine? Any at all? The only thing off the top of my head is Jackson Browne’s _Nothing But Time_: “Rolling down 295 out of Portland, Maine. Still high from the people up there, feeling no pain.” ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/10 "2012-03-18T16:39:48Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Maine? Any at all? The only thing off the top of my head is Jackson Browne’s _Nothing But Time_: > > “Rolling down 295 out of Portland, Maine. > Still high from the people up there, feeling no pain.” King of the Road? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/11 "2012-03-18T16:54:19Z")
[Scout Songs](http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/delaware.htm) has the lyrics for _Delaware_. The second set of lyrics were made popular by Perry Como in 1959. The song references: [ul][li] **Delaware** (What did Della wear?)[/li][li] **New Jersey** (She wore a brand-new jersey.)[/li][li] **California** (Why did Cali phone ya?)[/li][li] **Hawaii** (She called to say how-ah-ya.)[/li][li] **Mississippi** (What did Misses sip?)[/li][li] **Minnesota** (She sipped a mini-soda.)[/li][li] **Oregon** (Where has Ory gone?)[/li][li] **Alaska** (If you want, I’ll ask he(r).)[/li][li] **Texas** (She went to pay her taxes.)[/li][li] **Wisconsin** (How did Wiscon sin?)[/li][li] **Nebraska** (She stole a new brass key.)[/li][li] **Arkansas** (Too bad Arkan saw.)[/li][li] **Tennessee** (And so did Tenna see.)[/li][li] **Florida** (It made poor Flora die.)[/li][\*] **Missouri** (She died in misery.)[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/12 "2012-03-18T16:55:23Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Kansas may have a lot of songs associated with it, “Dust In the Wind”? 😃 > [@](#): > > but right offhand I can’t remember any that speak of it specifically. “I’m as corny as Kansas in August…” I don’t suppose “Kansas City” counts… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/13 "2012-03-18T17:11:23Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > King of the Road? That one doesn’t count because I just listened to the original recording and he mispronounces “Bangor.” It’s BANG-GORE, not BANG-GER. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/14 "2012-03-18T17:11:38Z")
_Is This Thing On_ by The Promise Ring has a slightly more in-depth reference to Delaware, although still not completely on point. One way of looking at the lyrics such as > [@](#): > > In Delaware are you aware of the air supply, and television delaware is that the speaker is just singing gibberish as a mic check (and thus the song’s not about the state at all,) or the speaker is singing about someone in Delaware who is either not-plugged in or talking gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/15 "2012-03-18T17:13:02Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > That one doesn’t count because I just listened to the original recording and he mispronounces “Bangor.” It’s BANG-GORE, not BANG-GER. A young down-east pilot named Sanger Got a girl alone in his hangar When she asked where in Maine He was flying his plane He said he was going to Bangor! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/16 "2012-03-18T17:17:52Z")
“Anchored Down in Anchorage,” by Michelle Shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/17 "2012-03-18T17:26:25Z")
" Other than the Bee Gees, who wrote a song about “Massachusetts”? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/18 "2012-03-18T17:40:25Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > “[Rhode Island is Famous for You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig2daWp-Pls)” by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, also known for “That’s Entertainment” and “Dancing in the Dark,” among a host of others. Here performed by the great Blossom Dearie. There may not be a song about RI that has the entire name of the state in it. You can probably find the entire name of all the other states in a song. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/19 "2012-03-18T18:00:09Z")
Are we counting songs about specific cities, or do they have to be about the state in general? (tons of songs about NYC) ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130/20 "2012-03-18T18:04:38Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Kansas may have a lot of songs associated with it, (“Over the Rainbow” anyone?) but right offhand I can’t remember any that speak of it specifically. > > Our state song is “Home on the Range”, and the word “Kansas” does not appear in it. “[The Rooster’s Lay Eggs in Kansas](http://www.tpcfassets.com/resources/band/2008/mp3/J759_ROOSTERS_LAY_EGGS_LAKE.mp3)” was purportedly Sousa’s favorite encore. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-have-the-most-and-least-songs-written-about-them/616130.md?page=2)