The official state song of Massachusetts is “All Hail to Massachusetts,” celebrating the state’s history and unique symbols like baked beans and the nickname “Bay State.” It was adopted in 1981, but other songs like “Massachusetts” by Arlo Guthrie have also been recognized by the legislature. The lyrics mention key battles in the Revolutionary War, including Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill.
The official state song of Massachusetts is “All Hail to Massachusetts,” written by Arthur J. Marsh. It was unofficially adopted in 1966, but was signed into law by the state legislature in September 1981. The song’s lyrics celebrate the state’s rich history, with the opening lines mentioning key battles in the Revolutionary War, such as Bunker Hill and Lexington and Concord . It also mentions key elements associated with Massachusetts, such as baked beans, cod, and Massachusetts Bay, for which the state was nicknamed the Bay State. Although “All Hail to Massachusetts” is officially listed as a state song, Massachusetts has also adopted its own folk song, “Massachusetts,” by Arlo Guthrie, as well as a number of other songs that have been adopted by the Commonwealth.
The opening lines of the Massachusetts State Song celebrate the state’s patriotism and history as a key area during the Revolutionary War. Important battles are remembered in the lines “For Bunker Hill and Charlestown, and the flag we love to fly: for Lexington and Concord, and the shot heard all over the world; We all salute Massachusetts, we will keep its flag unfurled.” Lexington and Concord were the cities where the first battles of the war were fought, with the “shot heard round the world” referring to the first shot that started the fighting. The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the first trials of the Colonial Army as it attempted to take the area from British forces, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
Other Massachusetts State Song lyrics tell more about the state and what makes it unique. Early settlers in the area gave it the nickname Bay State due to its proximity to several large bodies of water, and this has become the state’s most recognized nickname. Another popular symbol of Massachusetts is baked beans. Navy beans, which were unknown to Europeans before traveling to the Americas, were a staple food for Native Americans. Massachusetts settlers learned to make them and they became known as Boston Baked Beans. Eventually they were recognized by the legislature as an official symbol of the state.
While “All Hail to Massachusetts” is listed by most sources as the state song of Massachusetts, other pieces of music have also been officially recognized by the legislature. The popular state song is “Massachusetts” by Arlo Guthrie. Massachusetts also has a polka called “Say Hello to Someone from Massachusetts” and its own state ode, called “Ode to Massachusetts”.
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