Songs About American States

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VOICE ONE:

Almost every state in America has an official song. However,
songwriters have written many beautiful, un-official songs to
describe the state they love best.

I'm Shirley Griffith.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. We play songs about American states on our
report today on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

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VOICE ONE:

One of the most famous songs about an American state is from the
broadway musical play "Oklahoma!" Richard Rodgers and Oscar
Hammerstein wrote it in nineteen-forty-three. The play is about
farmers and cowboys living in a territory in the American west in
the early nineteen-hundreds. At the end of the play, they celebrate
when their territory becomes a state. Here, Nelson Eddy sings
"Oklahoma."

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VOICE TWO:

Texas is America's second largest
state in land area. It is famous for oil wells, cattle, and cowboys.
Many people believe that everything is bigger, better, and brighter
in Texas. Songwriters have written more songs about Texas than about
any other state. Bob Wills sings one of them here. It is called
"Deep In The Heart of Texas."

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VOICE ONE:

Many people think America's southern states have a special beauty
and history. And there are more songs about southern states than
about states in any other part of the country. One of the most
beautiful is about the state of Georgia. It is called "Georgia On My
Mind." Hoagy Carmichael wrote it. Ray Charles made it famous.

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VOICE TWO:

In the early nineteen-seventies, John Denver wrote and performed
many popular songs. Two were about the states he liked best. Both
have tall mountains. One state is West Virginia, which is actually
in the eastern part of the country.

John Denver said West Virginia is so beautiful that it is "almost
heaven." Here he sings "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

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VOICE ONE:

John Denver also loved the western state of Colorado, because of
the Rocky Mountains there. He sings about a young man who discovers
the mountains of Colorado. The experience changes his life. The song
is called "Rocky Mountain High."

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VOICE TWO:

Many people love the states in the northeastern United States.
This is the area called New England. These states are especially
beautiful in autumn when the leaves on the trees change from
green...to yellow...red...and orange. They also are beautiful in
winter when the land is covered with snow.

Here Billie Holiday sings about the beauty of one New England
state in the song, "Moonlight in Vermont":

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VOICE ONE:

Some people love the state of New
York best. Of course, many people want to live in the nation's
biggest and most exciting city, New York. Yet others love the rest
of the state, too, better than any other place. Carmen McRae sings
about this in the song, "New York State of Mind."

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VOICE TWO:

We do not want to forget America's middle western states, even
though there are not as many songs about them. There is one popular
song about the middle western state of Indiana. It is called "Back
Home Again In Indiana." Errol Garner plays it.

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VOICE ONE:

This program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was produced and
directed by Lawan Davis. I'm Shirley Griffith.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another report
about life in the United States on the VOA Special English program,
THIS IS AMERICA.