State songs on my mind

"Never play anything that don't sound right. You might not make any money, but at least you won't get hostile with yourself." ~Hoagy Carmichael

Recently, it was brought to my attention that I am sadly ignorant in the way of my home state's musical folklore, in particular the official state anthem. Though I was born in Alabama, I was raised in Georgia, so I decided it was only fair to research the state songs of both in trying to figure out which tune I should be humming for the rest of the week. And then I got carried away in trying to post and analyze the state songs of every state that I or my family has ever been in. So I finally decided to demonstrate my true unbiased American-ness by simply linking y'all (as we say in the true South) to a complete list of all 50 state songs. The site includes not only the title of each state song, but the lyrics as well, and in most cases, the link to purchase the sheet music and a clip of the song. Amazing, no? While browsing through this remarkable compilation of true American patriotism and musical folklore, I made the following observations:

1. I am a pretty pitiful character in the way of state patriotism. I didn't know the lyrics or even the titles of the state songs for Alabama ("Alabama"), Georgia ("Georgia on my mind"), or Utah ("Utah, We Love Thee"). The only songs I could vaguely hum or recall any words to were from three states in which I've never lived for a month: Virginia ("Carry Me Back to Old Virginia"; that's where the dah dah and the dah dah dah dah dah), Kansas ("Home on the Range"; of course, you'd have to be a buffalo to not recognize that one), and Tennessee ("Rocky Top"; it's good and it's ol'). Of course, before I shed too many tears about this pathetic (or apathetic, rather) demonstration of state pride, I really should work on memorizing all the verses of the national anthem (I'm pretty sure it's called either "The Star Spangled Banner" or "O Say Can You See[?]").

2. Overall, we as a nation are not very inventive in coming with titles for our state songs. I counted 10 states where the song is simply titled the name of the state (including my beloved "Alabama"). I can see that this is useful for only two purposes: to assist players of Jeopardy with easy trivia ("What's the state song of Wyoming!?" "Wyoming."), and to make it easy for kids to memorize them for tests (supposing in the first place that there is a teacher cruel enough to actually require this absurdly abstract knowledge of them). There are also quite a few states with less-than-creative song titles. Witness the following examples:

a. "Michigan, My Michigan." (which totally is a copycat of "Oregon, My Oregon," or "Maryland, My Maryland," or "Florida, My Florida," or vice versa). (Texas' title tries to be a little different, but the idea is pretty much the same: "Texas, Our Texas.")

b. "State Song of Maine." Yup, that about sums it up. Practical, those Mainers.

c. "Here We Have Idaho." Can you sense that there isn't any more to say?

d. "Hail Massachusetts." (Not bad, except for the fact that Minnesota, Vermont, South Dakota all had the same idea. Except Minnesota decided to be unique by putting an exclamation point: "Hail! Minnesota.")

3. What's up with Tennessee having SIX songs? Is the state divided into six parts or something? Maybe they had six first place winners when they held the state song contest? It seems like pretty poor sportsmanship to me, anyway. Can you imagine what would happen if every state was like that? 300 state songs, that's what.

4. There's a little bit of state snobbery going on in some of these songs:

a. The first line of California's anthem is "I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all." I guess they've only got 49 states that disagree with them.

b. Utah's anthem thinks a lot of itself: "Utah! Getting bigger and better. Utah! Always leading the way." Notice that it doesn't say what Utah is leading the way in. The production of Great Salt Lakes, most likely.

c. Idaho's is just a little pretentious: "You've heard of the wonders our land does possess." Really? I mean, really? To be honest, all I've heard about Idaho is potatoes.

d. Illinois's takes a chance on offending every other state that found on the Union side in the Civil War: "When the Southern host withdrew, Pitting Gray against the Blue, There were none more brave than you, Illinois."

e. This line from Nebraska's is kind of funny: "There is no place that has so much to give." Perhaps the reason it has so much to give is because no one wants it enough to take it....?

f. My favorite one of all is the first stanza of Rhode Island's anthem ("Rhode Island - It's for Me"). It pretty much speaks for itself:

I’ve been to every state we have,
and I think I’m inclined to say
that Rhody stole my heart:
You can keep the forty-nine.

5. Fun fact: Mississippi's state song says "Mississippi" 15 times and spells it out 5 times. It's practically a tongue twister.

6. So why does Connecticut get Yankee Doodle? You would think Massachusetts might be a little offended, at least...

7. I really like Indiana's title: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away." It's creative and interesting and fun to say. Imagine if you were from Indiana and were asked what your state song was (by the mean teacher, no doubt), and you got to say the words "Banks" and "Wabash" in the same sentence. Assuming you were in a classroom in a state other than Indiana, you could also mutter "Far Away" under your breath and everyone would snicker. Now isn't that just awesome?

After reading the state songs of Alabama and Georgia, I've decided that I like Georgia's better. Part of the reason is because I feel silly saying things like "Coosa-Tallapoosa" and "We will aye be true to thee!" But the main reason is that the situation in Georgia's state song is somewhat similar to my own - a person who left Georgia unwillingly (assumedly) is remembering it and promising to return someday. I've missed the green grass, trees, and country quietness of Georgia a lot since my family moved to Utah (in 2002), and I've always secretly hoped that I'll be able to move back and settle there again as an adult.

So in honor of Georgia, I'm making a pledge to memorize the lyrics of the Georgia state song before the end of the semester. But just to assure you I'm still a common flicker (and not a brown thrasher), I'm also going to memorize the title of Alabama's state song.

Georgia on My Mind
Written by: Stuart Gorrell
Composed by: Hoagy Carmichael
Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
Georgia, Georgia, a song of you
Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.

Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you.

Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

Melodies bring memories
That linger in my heart
Make me think of Georgia
Why did we ever part?

Some sweet day when blossoms fall
And all the world's a song
I'll go back to Georgia
'Cause that's where I belong.