STATE SONGS, SORTA

“TEN ICONIC SONGS THAT CELEBRATE the U.S. States That Inspired Them” at the dictionary;scoop website got me thinking of two of those cited, along with others not mentioned. Here are tidbits thereon, plus another chosen for the adroitness of its lyrics. 

“Georgia on My Mind” by Ray Charles. “You might be surprised to learn,” dictionary;scoop writes, “that this song wasn’t actually written by Ray Charles, but rather by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, and first recorded by Carmichael in 1930. Nevertheless, Ray Charles’ version is, without a doubt, the most iconic version, so much so that it was declared Georgia’s official state song in 2006.”

These others, though not officially sanctioned, are no less iconic. 

“Connecticut” by Judy Garland and Bing Crosby. This dictionary;scoop favorite is one of mine as well, particularly because of its charming lyrics by Ira Gershwin to his brother’s lilting melody.

Judy and Bing sing. Rendition from YouTube.

“It’s such a great state, for a late date, with a maid waiting just for you,” sings Bing. “And every Yale guy, is a male guy, through and through,” sings Judy.

“Rhode Island is Famous for You” by Blossom Dearie. Arthur Schwartz and lyricist Howard Dietz have appeared here at SimanaitisSays as part of The American Songbook. Jazz vocalist Blossom Dearie has good fun with Dietz’s progressively contrived lyrics mentioning states galore, sorta.

“Copper comes from Arizona/ Peaches come from Georgia/ And lobsters come from Maine,” Blossom Dearie begins on YouTube.

Soon the lyrics take a whimsical turn: “Gold comes from Nevada/ Divorces also do….” And “Pencils come from Pennsylvania/ Vests from Vest Virginia/ And tents from Tentassee/ They know mink where they grow mink in Wyomink.” The song concludes with “For you, you come from Rhode Island/ Don’t let them ride Rhode Island/ It’s famous for you.””

“Ohio” from Wonderful Town, 1953. The provenance of this one is top-rate: written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green, originally sung by Rosalind Russell and Edie Adams in its 1953 Broadway production.  

Wikipedia recounts, “The lyric is centered around the rhyming phrase ‘Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh/why did I ever leave Ohio?’ The song features a spoken word section in the middle, where the girls recall all the things they hated about Ohio that prompted them to leave in the first place, that ends with the sung line ‘Thank heaven we’re free!’ before going back to the title lyric.”

Roz Russell and Edie Adams sing from the Original Cast Recording via YouTube.

A native Clevelander, I too left Ohio, via Worcester, Massachusetts; Cleveland again; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and other places before becoming a born-again Californian. A last song choice reflects this. 

“Let’s Take a Walk Around the Block” Sung by Ella Fitzgerald. This one is centered on Manhattan, New York City, New York, celebrated here at SimanaitisSays for its “Feminine Rhymes” and the artistry of Ella Fitzgerald.

Ella eventually cites St. Thomas in this YouTube rendition.

It has been more than a couple of long blocks, but well worth the trippin’. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024