Colorado has two state songs: “Where the Columbines Grow” and “Rocky Mountain High.” The former, adopted in 1915, celebrates the natural beauty of the state, with a focus on the columbine flower. The latter, written by John Denver, was accepted as the second state song in 2007 and tells the story of a young man’s transformative experience in the Colorado mountains. The two songs complement each other in theme.
Colorado actually has two state songs. Colorado’s most famous state song, by AJ Flynn, is called “Where the Columbines Grow”, Colorado’s second state song is called, “Rocky Mountain High”, written and composed by folk singer John Denver.
In May of 1915, the state general assembly adopted “Where the Columbines Grow” as the state song of Colorado. Author, composer and noted educator AJ Flynn, Ph.D., created the song and all of its parts. The song itself focuses on the natural beauty that is so abundant in the great state of Colorado. It consists of three verses and a chorus that is repeated three times. Each line of the song enhances aspects of nature and wildlife in Colorado, but focuses primarily on the ever-present beauty of the columbine.
Columbine, officially known as aquelegia coerulea, is a wildflower that generally blooms in late spring. It is also the state flower of Colorado, and the variety known as Rocky Mountain Columbine, otherwise called the Colorado Blue Columbine, grows profusely in the mountains and valleys of Colorado. The flower itself is light blue and white in color and has a trumpet shape with five layered petals. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds find this particular wildflower extremely attractive. The pretty flower, while delicate in appearance, is actually quite hardy and long lasting which is why it was chosen as the state flower and serves as the centerpiece of the Colorado state song.
Over the years, “Where the Columbines Grow” has been contested as the state’s signature song. The most notable challenge came in 1997 when folk singer and songwriter John Denver died in a tragic plane crash. At that time, a group of fourth graders at a small elementary school in Colorado began a very persistent letter campaign to have the state song of Colorado changed to “Rocky Mountain High,” as written and sung by John Denver. Finally, in 2007, instead of changing the state song, the state senate, in a joint resolution, ruled that “Rocky Mountain High” should be accepted as the second song.
The song “Rocky Mountain High” tells the story of a young man who enters a state of grace and self-awareness through the natural beauty he encounters in the Colorado mountains. While the original state song, “Where the Columbines Grow,” focuses primarily on the magnificence of nature found in Colorado, Colorado’s second state song, “Rocky Mountain High,” focuses on the life-changing effect that such incredible beauty can have on a person. The two songs, therefore, actually complement each other in theme.
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