A fight song is a song associated with a sports team, used to gather crowds and express solidarity. They are found at all levels of competition and are easy to learn. Fight songs unite fans and can reference rivals. The term dates back to 1954 and is related to stadium anthems. A fight song is […]
Hoagy Carmichael composed “Georgia on My Mind” in 1930, and Ray Charles popularized it in 1960 with his blues rendition. The song became the official state song of Georgia in 1979. Its origins are unclear, with some sources suggesting it was written for a sister named Georgia, while others claim it was suggested by saxophonist […]
“Maryland, My Maryland” is the state song of Maryland, set to the tune of “O, Tannenbaum.” It was written by James Ryder Randall during the Civil War, expressing sympathy for the Confederate cause. The song contains derogatory terms towards Northerners and Abraham Lincoln, causing controversy. Despite efforts to change the lyrics, the song remains the […]
“Texas, Our Texas” is the state song of Texas, written by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright. It won a statewide competition in the late 1920s and was officially adopted in 1929. The lyrics reflect Texas’ pride in its independence, loyalty, purity, and courage. The Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto are referenced […]
“Oregon My Oregon” was chosen as the state song in 1920 after a contest sponsored by the Society of Oregon Composers. Henry Murtagh wrote the music and John Andrew Buchanan wrote the lyrics, which were inspired by the state’s natural beauty and settlers. Murtagh wanted the song to be unique and not generic like other […]
“Old Folks at Home” is Florida’s current state song, replacing “Florida, My Florida” in 1935. The song was originally written about the Pee Dee River, not the Suwanee River, and has been criticized for possible racist undertones. The song was written by Steven Collins Foster, who also wrote “My Old Kentucky Home,” among other well-known […]
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 […]
Song gao is a Shanghai-born dessert made with rice flour, sugar, milk, and red bean paste, topped with whole red azuki beans. It is a popular Lunar New Year treat and has been on the menu at Taipei Grand Hotel since 1952. A popular treat to celebrate the Lunar New Year in China is a […]
“Hail Minnesota” was written by two University of Minnesota students in 1904 and 1905 for a play, which later became the school’s alma mater. In 1945, it became the state song. The lyrics celebrate Minnesota’s natural beauty and the loyalty of its residents. The song references the state’s diverse landscape and was commissioned for an […]
“Washington, My Home” is the official state song of Washington, written by Helen Davis in 1950 and declared official in 1959. The song’s copyright is owned by the Davis estate, but the state holds an exclusive license for its use. The song’s lyrics reflect the state’s scenery and terrain. Despite being the official song, it […]
“My Old Kentucky Home” is Kentucky’s state song, composed by Stephen Collins Foster in 1852. Originally titled “Poor Uncle Tom, Good Night,” it was changed to appeal to Southern audiences. The lyrics were modified in 1986 to remove racial slurs. The song is played at sporting events, including the Kentucky Derby and University of Kentucky […]
The Missouri Waltz is the state song of Missouri, with disputed origins and lyrics written by James Royce Shannon. It gained popularity during Harry S. Truman’s presidential run and was adopted as the state song in 1949 after some racially insensitive lyrics were changed. The tune existed before lyrics were written and may have been […]
South Carolina has two state songs: “Carolina” and “South Carolina in my Mind”. The lyrics of “Carolina” were written by Henry Timrod, who also wrote about the Civil War. “South Carolina in my Mind” was written by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge and focuses on the beauty of the state. The second song was promoted […]
“Beautiful Ohio” was created in 1918 by composer Robert Keizer and lyricist Ballard MacDonald. It became Ohio’s state song in 1969, despite debate over its relevance. The song’s lyrics were revised in 1989 to better represent the state’s industry and agriculture. The instrumental version is more commonly known due to its use at sporting events. […]
“On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” is the state song of Indiana, written by Paul Dresser in 1899 and adopted by the state legislature in 1913. The song captures the state’s natural beauty and rural heritage, with the Wabash River playing an important role in Hoosier culture. Dresser, a nationally and internationally acclaimed […]
“The Maine Song” by Roger Vinton Snow is the state song of Maine, praising the state’s abundant forests, streams, and salty seas. The song was chosen from a pool of 116 songs submitted in a contest held by the Maine state advertising office in 1931. Maine became the 23rd state of the United States in […]
Elizabeth Garrett, daughter of Pat Garrett who killed Billy the Kid, wrote “O Fair New Mexico” in 1915. It became the state song in 1917 and she was granted a lifetime payment in 1937. She died in 1947 and her song is inscribed on her gravestone. The state also has a march and a Spanish-language […]
The official state song of Oklahoma is “Oklahoma!” from the Rogers and Hammerstein play of the same name. It extols the virtues of the state’s agricultural industry and prairies. It reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1955 and is certified double platinum. Oklahoma has four other officially recognized state songs. The official state […]
I Love You, California is the official state song of California, written in 1913 by Francis Bernard Silverwood and composed by Abraham Franklin Frankenstein. It was named the state song in 1951 and became official in 1988. The song has a rich history and was performed by Mary Garden in 1913 and played on the […]
“Montana” by Charles C. Cohan and Joseph E. Howard is the state song of Montana, adopted in 1945. It praises the state’s beauty, land, and mountains, and mentions the state’s nickname “the treasure state”. It was written in just 30 minutes after a suggestion from Mrs. E. Creighton Largey. The song was extremely popular and […]
