50 States, 50 Songs
Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" might be the most famous song about the country—but what about all those 50 states? What are the 50 songs that speak to each one of those united states? How many do you know? And do you think we picked the best ones? Let us know which ones would've made your list...
Alabama
Song: "Sweet Home Alabama"
Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd's response to Neil Young's "Southern Man" became their highest-charting single. Skynyrd was a fan of Young though—and Young even said, at one point, that he preferred their song.
Andrew King, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alaska
Song: "North to Alaska"
Artist: Johnny Horton
There are more songs about Alaska to choose from than you probably thought. But Horton's track rose all the way up to number one on the Billboard Country charts.
Arizona
Song: "Take It Easy"
Artist: Eagles
Raise your hand if you only know the town of Winslow, Arizona because of this song. That's what I thought.
karstenknuth, Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas
Song: "Mary Queen of Arkansas"
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
The song was released on Springsteen's debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ—and was one of the four songs that The Boss played at his audition for John H Hammond at CBS Records.
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
California
Song: "Hotel California"
Artist: Eagles
If you would've gone with "California Love" by 2Pac or "California Girls" by The Beach Boys, I wouldn't argue with you. But for me, and many others I assume, it has to be the Eagles' hit song—and one of the greatest rock tracks of all time—"Hotel California".
Steve Alexander, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Colorado
Song: "Rocky Mountain High"
Artist: John Denver
In 1972, John Denver had a top 10 hit with "Rocky Mountain High". The FCC also temporarily censored the song because of what they perceived as less than family-friendly "high" references. Denver denied the claims that his song was about such things.
Connecticut
Song: "Connecticut"
Artist: Judy Garland and Bing Crosby
"Circled the globe, dozens of times/Seen all its wonders, known all its climes/I've searched it with a fine tooth comb/And found that I only have one home sweet home/Connecticut always will be my home sweet home".
Delaware
Song: "Delaware"
Artist: Perry Como
Como recorded the hit version of this Irving Gordon song. Pun-lovers rejoice: "What did Delaware?/She wore a brand New Jersey".
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Florida
Song: "Kokomo"
Artist: The Beach Boys
Yes, they mention Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, and Bahama—but the place "you wanna go" is Kokomo, and it's off the Florida keys. 1988's "Kokomo" was the Beach Boys' final top 40 hit.
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Georgia
Song: "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"
Artist: Charlie Daniels Band
Yeah, there is a great midnight train that goes there, but when it comes to Georgia, it's the Charlie Daniels Band all the way with their story of a man who battles the devil in a fiddle contest for his soul.
CLender, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hawaii
Song: Hawaii Five-O Theme
Artist: The Ventures
The Ventures cover of this classic TV theme instrumental spent an impressive 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100—and rose up as high as number four.
Liberty Records, Wikimedia Commons
Idaho
Song: "Private Idaho"
Artist: The B-52's
This was the band's second song to make it onto the Billboard Hot 100, and was called "a contagious rock dancer" by CashBox. And if you're wondering about any connection to the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho...Director Gus Van Sant titled his film after the song.
Lynn Goldsmith, Warner Bros. Records, Wikimedia Commons
Illinois
Song: "In The Ghetto"
Artist: Elvis Presley
The song is from his 1969 comeback album, From Elvis in Memphis—but this top-five Billboard hit is about Chicago, as it states right in the opening verse: "As the snow flies/On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'/A poor little baby child is born/In the ghetto".
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Indiana
Song: "Small Town"
Artist: John Mellencamp
Indiana is never mentioned by name in the song, but Mellencamp was born in Seymour, Indiana and lived in Bloomington, Indiana—and the song is about growing up in said places. Both of which are directly referenced in the music video.
Fred W. Baker III, Wikimedia Commons
Iowa
Song: "Iowa Stubborn"
Artist: The Music Man
For all the musical fans out there, we can't talk about Iowa without mentioning this call out to the state from The Music Man.
Warner Bros., The Music Man (1962)
Kansas
Song: "Wichita Lineman"
Artist: Glen Campbell
After Campbell had a big hit with "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", he was looking for another geographically-based song and called songwriter Jimmy Webb—Webb delivered "Wichita Lineman".
Phillip JonesLumdeloo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky
Song: "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
Artist: Bill Monroe
The official bluegrass song of Kentucky was ranked the 11th Greatest Song in Country Music by CMT in 2003. Some notable versions of the song have been recorded by artists such as Paul McCartney and Elvis Presley.
bunky's pickle, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana
Song: "House of the Rising Sun"
Artist: The Animals
I know that "Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans" there "lived a country boy named Johnny B Goode". However, it's the "house in New Orleans" that "they call the Rising Sun" that is the one we went with.
Richard William Laws, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Maine
Song: "Portland, Maine"
Artist: Tim McGraw
Musician and songwriter Donovan Woods (who also recorded the song) said that the track isn't actually about Portland, Maine. But the town is namechecked multiple times throughout, so it totally counts.
Budd Butcher, Wikimedia Commons
Maryland
Song: "Good Morning Baltimore"
Artist: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
The awesome opening number from the 2002 Hairspray musical.
The Drama League photo by Rob Rich, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts
Song: "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
Artist: The Dropkick Murphys
It's not uncommon to hear this one played at a New England Patriots game or a Boston Celtics or Bruins home game. Martin Scorsese also used the song in his film The Departed (which is set in Boston).
Darkterp, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Michigan
Song: "Detroit Rock City"
Artist: Kiss
Said Paul Stanley: "Detroit really embraced us before any other city. We were an opening act everywhere else, but in Detroit we were a headliner".
Tilly antoine, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota
Song: "Say Shh"
Artist: Atmosphere
Atmosphere does a very Midwestern version of a boastful rap song about his beloved Minnesota.
Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi
Song: "Mississippi Girl"
Artist: Faith Hill
Faith Hill is a Mississippi girl and her so-named 2005 hit track topped the country charts for two weeks.
sisterphotography, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Missouri
Song: "Missouri Waltz"
Artist: Glenn Miller
It became the state song in 1949 and the marching band at the University of Missouri still plays it before every home football game.
Montana
Song: "Montana"
Artist: Frank Zappa
Tina Turner and the Ikettes sing background on this track—one of Zappa's most famous songs.
Fotopersbureau De Boer, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska
Song: "Omaha"
Artist: Counting Crows
It wasn't one of the singles released of the band's hit debut album. However, for everyone who bought the record back in the day, "Omaha" instantly became a favorite.
Rutger Hesseling, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada
Song: "Waking Up In Vegas"
Artist: Katy Perry
Off her debut album, Perry's ode to "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" was a top 10 hit in eight countries.
New Hampshire
Song: "New Hampshire"
Artist: Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth fans remember Steve and Joe, "The New Hampshire boys".
New Jersey
Song: "Jersey Girl"
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
When it comes to New Jersey, it has to be either Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen, right? And while "Jersey Girl" is an original Tom Waits track, The Boss's cover has become a favorite among Springsteen fans.
Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, Picryl
New Mexico
Song: "New Mexico"
Artist: Johnny Cash
"T’was in the town of Griffin, the year was Eighty-three/It was there an old cow puncher, stepped up and said to me/How do you do young fellow and how would you like to go/And spend a pleasant summer, out in New Mexico".
Heinrich Klaffs, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
New York
Song: Theme from New York, New York
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Originally written for the Martin Scorsese film New York, New York—Sinatra covered it a couple years later and the rest is history. There might not be any song more associated with one city than this one.
CBS/CBS Radio, Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina
Song: "Carolina in My Mind"
Artist: James Taylor
Although born in Boston, James Taylor spent a great part of his childhood in North Carolina—and while vacationing in Spain, he wrote this song out of homesickness for the state.
Columbia Records, Wikimedia Commons
North Dakota
Song: "North Dakota"
Artist: Lyle Lovett
The song can be found on Lovett's 1992 album, Joshua Judges Ruth—which reached as high as 57 on the Billboard 200.
Anne Jacko, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ohio
Song: "Ohio"
Artist: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
CSN&Y's iconic song about the tragic events at Kent State University still stands as a classic song about the battle going on in America in the 60s and early 70s.
Tony Morelli, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma
Song: "Oklahoma Sky"
Artist: Miranda Lambert
Lambert was born in Texas but eventually moved to Oklahoma. About this song, she said, "I feel like it's my ode to my beautiful new home state".
Oregon
Song: "Eugene, Oregon"
Artist: Dolly Parton
"Eugene, Oregon, I'll remember you for the rest of my life/I won't forget how good you were to me"—what state doesn't want to hear that?
Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania
Song: "Streets of Philadelphia"
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Written for the film Philadelphia, the song earned Springsteen a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award.
Rhode Island
Song: "Rhode Island is Famous for You"
Artist: Blossom Dearie
All the states are famous for something, but Rhode Island is famous for you.
South Carolina
Song: "The Charleston"
Artist: James P Johnson
No lyrics, just a ridiculously catchy jazz beat that became a dance craze that's lasted over 100 years. We aren't going to argue with that.
South Dakota
Song: "South Dakota Morning"
Artist: Bee Gees
A track off of their 1973 album, Life in a Tin Can.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee
Song: "Graceland"
Artist: Paul Simon
This 1988 Record of the Year winner is also one of the 500 greatest songs of all time according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Miho, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Texas
Song: "All My Ex’s Live in Texas"
Artist: George Strait
It's not just a great title. This George Strait hit was also nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
Bede735, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Utah
Song: "Salt Lake City"
Artist: The Beach Boys
Yup, the band most associated with the state of California wrote an ode to Salt Lake City.
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Vermont
Song: "Moonlight in Vermont"
Artist: Frank Sinatra
While not an official state song, "Moonlight in Vermont" has been embraced by the state—so much so that it is often the first dance song at Vermont wedding receptions.
William P. Gottlieb, Wikimedia Commons
Virginia
Song: "Sweet Virginia"
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Rock critic Matthew Pollard called the song "a pretty little Country-inspired work of genius that’s thought-provoking and inspiring as it is a real crowd-pleasing sing-along".
Washington
Song: "Posse On Broadway"
Artist: Sir Mix-a-Lot
For most folks, "Baby Got Back" is Sir Mix-a-Lot’s greatest song—but for those in Seattle, it often comes in second to "Posse On Broadway".
Jgphotographydetroit, Shutterstock
West Virginia
Song: "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
Artist: John Denver
This song is the only reason most people know that the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River are in West Virginia.
Hughes Television Network, Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin
Song: "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
The fateful voyage of the Edmund Fitzgerald began in Wisconsin.
Piedmontstyle, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wyoming
Song: "Song of Wyoming"
Artist: John Denver
Denver makes the list one more time.
You might also like:
The Most Famous TV Shows Set In Each State
The Most Popular Christmas Movie In Each State
_(53704146372)_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
