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I did a bit of research tonight to find out that Tennessee has five official state songs (big sigh of relief). I grew up knowing only the one... Rocky Top. I like the music to the song, but the lyrics are embarrassing. Ugh...how could it be adopted as a state song? Doesn't it put the picture of stereotypical hillbillies into your mind when you hear the lyrics? I remember singing this song at school in music class, but never did we sing the other official state songs. I won't force you to read the lyrics because you may be one of those people who gets the song going over and over in your head. Now I can't get it out of my head! Here's the link if you want to read the words. Are their any other state songs half this goofy?Wednesday, May 23, 2007
State Song Embarrassment
I did a bit of research tonight to find out that Tennessee has five official state songs (big sigh of relief). I grew up knowing only the one... Rocky Top. I like the music to the song, but the lyrics are embarrassing. Ugh...how could it be adopted as a state song? Doesn't it put the picture of stereotypical hillbillies into your mind when you hear the lyrics? I remember singing this song at school in music class, but never did we sing the other official state songs. I won't force you to read the lyrics because you may be one of those people who gets the song going over and over in your head. Now I can't get it out of my head! Here's the link if you want to read the words. Are their any other state songs half this goofy?
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9 comments:
Yeah, I guess the moonshine references aren't very flattering. I once saw a Baltimore funk/reggae/rock band called the All Mighty Senators cover "Rocky Top" and it was outstanding.
Oh yeah, at least TN's isn't to the tune of a Christmas song like MD's.
I have gotten pretty sick of "Rocky Top" over the past eight years. It always disturbed me that kids would sing enthusiastically about elicit hookups and drinking moonshine.
Kentucky's state song sounds like a funeral march. Here is a Wiki article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Old_Kentucky_Home
Ky fact: about 95% of the world's bourbon is made in Kentucky!
At least it's catchy. I don't know what Maryland's state song is and only know Pennsylvania's (where I grew up), because I just looked it up. The PA state song is called Pennsylvania, so original.
Ok, I never even knew states had songs. Your blog is very educational. Mine is called "I love you California" and even though it sounds snooty, its a nice song. WHo knew!
"You Are My Sunshine"! Guess which Southern state has this for one of their state songs! Yeah, the song that goes "You are my sunshine, My only sunshine, You make me happy when skies are grey". You can see all the state songs and listen to them through the following link.
http://www.50states.com/songs/
I'm gonna guess "You Are My Sunshine" goes is Florida's state song. It's kinda weird, because we think of the happier part at the beginning, but it's actually a pretty sad song.
"You are my Sunshine" is a special song to me. My mother used to sing the chorus to me when I was a small child. The other day I caught myself singing it to my son. Now I am all choked up. Seriously.
"You Are My Sunshine" is Louisiana's state song. Bob, you're right about it being a sad song! It has several stanzas that I've never heard. It makes me think about hurricane Katrina.
LVF, that such a sweet memory that you have of your mother singing the song to you! It's wonderful to think that my kids will have sweet memories of me singing to them! And I don't think that it matters to them at all that I can't carry a tune! :)
Here's a link to the words to "You Are My Sunshine".
http://www.50states.com/songs/louis2.htm
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