“The Old North State” is North Carolina’s state song, adopted in 1927. The lyrics by William Gaston describe the state’s struggles and enduring spirit. The music has evolved over time, with the current version arranged by Mrs. EE Randolph in 1926. Gaston composed the lyrics in 1835 after hearing a melody from Swiss bell ringers. […]
Pennsylvania’s state song, written by Ronnie Bonner and Eddie Khoury, was adopted on November 29, 1990. It mentions the state’s power, tradition, and battles for freedom, as well as God, the birthplace of the US, a keystone, and the US flag. The song consists of two verses and two choruses. Pennsylvania’s state song is called […]
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, […]
“Alaska’s Flag” is the state song, written by Marie Drake and set to music by Elinor Dusenbury. It describes the blue skies and gold stars of the state flag, designed by Benny Benson. The song was adopted in 1955, four years before Alaska became a state. Alaska’s state song is titled “Alaska’s Flag,” which was […]
Arizona has two state songs: “The Arizona March Song” and “Arizona” or “I Love You Arizona.” Both songs celebrate the state’s natural beauty, with the former being a traditional marching song and the latter a sentimental ballad. State songs are played at important events to increase pride and bind residents to their state. Part of […]
“Here We Have Idaho” is the state song of Idaho, created by McKinley Helm, Albert J. Tompkins, and Alice Bessee by combining the instrumental score of “Garden of Paradise.” The song was originally known as “Our Idaho” and became the alma mater song of the University of Idaho before being adopted as the state song […]
Tennessee is known as the country music capital of the United States, with Nashville being called “Music City”. The state has five official state songs, including “My Homeland Tennessee” and “Rocky Top”. Pending legislation may add three more. Music has always been an important part of the culture of the US state of Tennessee. The […]
New Jersey has no official state song, despite attempts to create one. The unofficial state song is “I’m From New Jersey” by Red Mascara, which almost became official in 1972 but was vetoed by the governor. Mascara wrote the song to express his pride in the state and it describes New Jersey’s history, landmarks, and […]
“Home on the Range” is the state song of Kansas, written by Dr. Brewster Higley and Dan Kelley in 1870. It became a symbol of the American West and has been adapted for other states. The true composer was disputed, but Higley was eventually confirmed. The song is accompanied by other state symbols, including the […]
Virginia does not have an official state song, but had “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” from 1940 to 1997, when it was retired due to controversy over its lyrics. Virginia has not been able to agree on a new state song since. “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” was written by James A. Bland, […]
Alabama’s state song, written by Julia S. Tutwiler in the late 1860s and set to music by Edna Gockel Gussen, was adopted in 1931. The song references the state’s history of agriculture and mining and aims to inspire loyalty. Other popular songs about Alabama include “Stars Fell on Alabama” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” The state […]
Iowa’s official state song, The Song of Iowa, was adopted in 1911 and was written by Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers. The Corn Song, an unofficial state song, is more popular and was written by George Hamilton in 1912. Iowa is known for its corn and other agricultural products, and has various state symbols including the […]
“Go Mississippi” is the official state song of Mississippi, adopted in 1962. It was written by William Houston Davis and reflects the state’s positive attitude. Mississippi also has other state symbols, such as the flag, coat of arms, and state bird, the Mockingbird. In 2000 and 2011, attempts were made to change the state song, […]
Illinois adopted its official state song, “Illinois,” in 1925, written by Charles H. Chamberlain and Archibald Johnston. It celebrates the state’s prairies, agricultural history, and Civil War role. The state name is a common trend in official state songs, and to the Algonquin Indian tribes, “Illinois” means superior men or warriors. According to the Illinois […]
48 US states have state songs or anthems, some with multiple songs. New York’s state song, “I Love New York,” was written by Steve Karmen as part of a successful tourism advertising campaign in 1977. The song has had a significant impact on popular culture. Forty-eight U.S. states have one or more state songs or […]
Hawaii Ponoi is the state song of Hawaii, written by King David Kalakaua. It tells the story of King Kamehameha, the first monarch to unite the Hawaiian Islands. It was the national anthem of Hawaii when it was an independent republic and is still sung at events. The song is about loyalty to King Kamehameha […]
The Song Dynasty in China lasted from 960 to 1279 AD and was a prosperous period in Chinese history. The Northern Song Dynasty was founded by Zhao Kuangyin and was followed by the Southern Song Dynasty. The era saw advances in technology, agriculture, and education. The population doubled due to an expanding system of rice […]
“Home Means Nevada” is the state song of Nevada, composed by Bertha Raffetto in 1932. Raffetto was asked to find a song about Nevada for a club function and completed an unfinished one. The song describes the beauty of Nevada, a mixture of mountainous and desert regions. Raffetto continued to write music, poetry, and ballads, […]
Utah’s state song, “Utah, This is the Place,” celebrates the state’s natural beauty and pioneering spirit. It replaced “Utah, We Love Thee” in 2003 after a petition from schoolchildren. The song also pays tribute to the state’s Mormon heritage and highlights its outdoor activities and winter sports. The official state song of Utah is “Utah, […]
Most US states have official state songs that celebrate the state’s wonders and accomplishments. Some have more than one, including rock songs. Some famous state songs include “Yankee Doodle” and “Georgia on My Mind.” Inspiration for state songs comes from various sources. A state song is one of many official state symbols adopted by most […]
