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I thought this would be a somewhat interesting topic that speaks to states as sub-brands of Americana and our national identity. I don't know if anybody has the time to come up with an objective list, so this is really more about perception. Really, the state doesn't even have to be the focus of the song, even being mentioned is fine.
I know California, Texas, Georgia, and New York will have a lot. Colorado is probably up there as well, as I'm sure is Florida. Cities or places in state are fine too, such as "Streets of Bakersfield" by Buck Owens for California and "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show which mentions the Cumberland Gap for Virginia, Kentucky, or Tennessee.
As an aside, which state has the fewest songs about it? Every state is going to have a state song, but after that, which has the least? Rhode Island (probably not, because I can think of several songs which use the city of Providence as a metaphor for destiny)? Connecticut? Iowa (just throwing names out there to be provocative)?
You are correct about Georgia. There aren't just many, many songs written about Georgia or that make reference to Georgia, but there are many popular and well known HIT songs about Georgia. In fact, in 1973 both the No.1 and No 2 hit singles on the Billboard charts had Georgia in their titles. Can you name them without cheating?
I doubt this is the most songs but I'd like to throw in some Missouri songs, as well as songs that cover cities in MO such as St. Louis & Kansas City, etc
-Missouri Waltz Yes, it's the State Song, but it's a gorgeous one and has been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to The Fontaine Sisters
-Missing Missouri by Sara Evans
-Missouri Moon by Rhonda Vincent
-Beyond the Missouri Sky (technically an Album by Charlie Haden)
-Tears Fell on Missouri by Blue Highway
-You've Come a Long Way from St. Louis sung by Rosemary Clooney amongst many others
-(Show me the way to) St. Louis by the Easybeats, most recently covered by Grinspoon
-St. Louis Tickle by Theron Catlan Bennett
-Kansas City Kitty by Johnny Bond
-Kansas City by Leiber & Stoller (performed by Brenda Lee, The Beatles and others)
-Kitty from Kansas City by Rudy Vallee
-Missouri River Song by Bill Staines
-Cold Missouri Waters by Cry Cry Cry
-Walkin to Missouri by The Hames Sisters
-The Missouri Dawg Song by Byron C. Harlan
-Missouri Gal by Big Sandy
-Across the Wide Missouri (numerous covers)
-Back in the U.S.A by Chuck Berry (refers to St. Louis- just to be at my home back in Old St. Lou'
-St. Louis Blues (numerous covers, including Chuck Berry and Louis Armstrong)
-St. Louis Blues March by the Glenn Miller Band
-Kansas City! by Rodgers & Hammerstein
-St. Louie by Nelly
-Country Grammar by Nelly (refers to St. Louis and areas within multiple times)
-Utha Side by Nelly (refers to St. Louis as the STL, and the 'Utha Side' refers to East St. Louis in Illinois)
-Steal the Show by Nelly (refers to St. Louis- check the background, St. Louis Clown from the U.Town
-Batter Up by Nelly (refers again- a good high school out in U. City of St. Louis, Missouri)
-Show Me Missouri Blues by Julia Lee
-Leaving Missouri by Ry Cooder
-Born in Missouri by James Cotton
-Missouri by Merle Travis
-Missouri by David Ford
-Miss Missouri by Valley Jazz
-Missouri Loves Company by After the Tragedy
-Dark Winds of Missouri by The Night Driver
-Missouri Dreaming by Avi Bortnick
-Missouri Girl by Back Porch Mary
-Southwest Missouri by The Mark Chapman Band
-Shovelin' Coal in Missouri by Jimmy Rodgers
-The St. Louis Song by Jewel
-Route 66 (various covers) mentions St. Louis and Missouri
-From St. Louie to Frisco by Chuck Berry (technically an album, from 1968)
-Holidae Inn by Chingy (mentions the STL- ching a ling ling, all the way in St. Louis)
-Ridin' Wit' Me by Chingy (because the whole St. Louis is ridin' wit' me)
-St. Louis N* by Chingy
-Meet Me in St. Louis by Sterling & Mills (made popular again in the 40s by Judy Garland in the Musical)
-Train from Kansas City by the Shangri Las
-A Song for Kansas City by Jewel & Steve Poltz
-Christmas in Kansas City by Brad Millison
-Kansas City Nightmare by Cat Stevens
-Kansas City Star by Roger Miller
-Kansas City Papa by Leadbelly
-Kansas City Milkman by Level 42
-Kansas City Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton
-Kansas City Shout by Count Basie
-Kansas City Shuffle by J Ralph
-Kansas City Funk by the RH Factor
-Eternal Kansas City by Van Morrison
-Kansas City Southern by Gene Clark
-Missouri Belle -a Pro-Union song during the Civil War
-Missouri, Bright Land of the West - a Pro-Confederate song during the Civil War
Anyway, that's all that I can come up with for right now! I'm not sure how many that is Enjoy!
You are correct about Georgia. There aren't just many, many songs written about Georgia or that make reference to Georgia, but there are many popular and well known HIT songs about Georgia. In fact, in 1973 both the No.1 and No 2 hit singles on the Billboard charts had Georgia in their titles. Can you name them without cheating?
Ok, I cheated halfway. I remembered "Midnight Train to Georgia" but I had to search to find "The Night the Lights went out in Georgoa"
some more....
Georgia on my Mind - Ray Charles
Sweet Georgia Brown - Harlem Globetrotters Themesong
The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniel's Band
Why Georgia - John Mayer (does this count??)
Chattahoochee - Alan Jackson
Ramblin Man - Allman Brothers
Welcome to Atlanta - assortment of fake, corporate rappers
Country Girl Shake it for me - Luke Bryan
Love Shack - The B52s
Sittin on the dock of the bay - Otis Redding
Georgia has always had a very rich music tradition rooted in many different genres of music, and it seems like new music scenes are always popping up in different areas of the state. Also, I think the word "Georgia" is very pleasant to the ear and sounds better in a song than say, "Wisconsin" or "Rhode Island"
I thought this would be a somewhat interesting topic that speaks to states as sub-brands of Americana and our national identity. I don't know if anybody has the time to come up with an objective list, so this is really more about perception. Really, the state doesn't even have to be the focus of the song, even being mentioned is fine.
I know California, Texas, Georgia, and New York will have a lot. Colorado is probably up there as well, as I'm sure is Florida. Cities or places in state are fine too, such as "Streets of Bakersfield" by Buck Owens for California and "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show which mentions the Cumberland Gap for Virginia, Kentucky, or Tennessee.
As an aside, which state has the fewest songs about it? Every state is going to have a state song, but after that, which has the least? Rhode Island (probably not, because I can think of several songs which use the city of Providence as a metaphor for destiny)? Connecticut? Iowa (just throwing names out there to be provocative)?
"Wagon Wheel"'s a great song. Also mentions New England, "Philly" and Raleigh.
RE: Iowa, Bob Seegar's "Turn the Page" mentions it, sort of: "on a long lonely highway east of Omaha". Back in the 60s, The Association did a song called "Dubuque Blues", and in the 50s, someone did a R&R song "Sioux City Sue", and Johnny Cash's "Big River" mentions Davenport. You do have me stumped with CT and RI, though.
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