Hawaii Current Song: “Hawaii Ponoi” Hawaii’s own true sons, be loyal to your chief Your country’s liege and lord, the Alii (English translation)
Our 21st Century pick: “Hawaii” by The Strokes Wether you’re in L.A., sunny laid back L.A. Wether you in New York, comfort ‘round your block Wether you’re in the UK, where the sky is dark and the grass is kinda green , you know like central park. Still my favorite place in this whole wide world has got to be in the middle of the ocean floor. I see you poking out the ocean. Paradise on earth. The 50th State – What?! Hawaii
Idaho Current Song: “Here We Have Idaho” You’ve heard of the wonders our land does possess, It’s beautiful valleys and hills, The majestic forests where nature abounds, We love every nook and rill.
Our 21st Century pick: “Idaho” by Josh Ritter Out at sea for seven years I got your letter in Tangier Thought that I’d been on a boat Til that single word you wrote That single word it landlocked me Turned the masts to cedar trees And the winds to gravel roads Idaho oh Idaho
Illinois Current Song: “Illinois” By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois, O’er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois
Our 21st Century pick: “Come On! Feel The Illinoise!: The World’s Columbian Exposition – Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream” by Sufjan Stevens Chicago, in fashion, the soft drinks, expansion Oh Columbia! From Paris, incentive, like Cream of Wheat invented, The Ferris Wheel!
Our 21st Century runner-up: “Giant of Illinois” by Andrew Bird
Indiana Current Song: “On the Banks of the Wabash” ‘Round my Indiana homesteads wave the cornfields, In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool.
Our 21st Century pick: “Indiana” by Melissa Etheridge Those big dreams are flying machines And they’ll take you wherever you want to go. Sometimes you find that what’s real is inside You don’t have to go away To find your way home Oh, Indiana
Our 21st Century runners-up: “Indiana” by Cymbals Eat Guitars, “Springtime Indiana” by Sandra McCracken
Iowa Current Song: “The Song of Iowa” You asked what land I love the best, Iowa, tis Iowa, The fairest State of all the west, Iowa, O! Iowa
Our 21st Century pick: “Diggin’ My Grave” by William Elliott Whitmore This Iowa dirt is mighty cold This Iowa dirt is mighty cold And god will never rest my soul Down in this Iowa dirt so cold
Kansas Current Song: “Home On the Range” Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam Where the Deer and the Antelope play
Our 21st Century pick: “Kansas” by Ian McCulloch I’m growing up Growing into me Knowing now where I come from I’m going back Going back to see How going right could go so wrong Where I’m heading I can’t tell Down to Heaven Or up to Hell
Kentucky Current Song: “My Old Kentucky Home” The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home ‘Tis summer, the people are gay
Our 21st Century pick: “Postcard From Kentucky” by Rocky Votolato Filling station 2 am Filling out a postcard again Laughing and remembering What you say, you’re lucky you’re still breathing Hell I’m ready for what waits Return my body to the leaves With your ghost singing me to sleep I can hear the melody sing
Our 21st Century runner-up: “Nashville to Kentucky” by My Morning Jacket
Louisiana Current Song: “Give Me Louisiana” & “You Are My Sunshine” Give me Louisiana, The state where I was born The state of snowy cotton, The best I’ve ever known
Our 21st Century pick: “Louisiana” by The Walkmen Louisiana Come go away with me Drinking our coffee Under the canopy Never saw a morning I slept through half a day There’s thunder and there’s lightening A hundred miles away
Our 21st Century runner-up: “Louisiana Style” by Tab Benoit
Maine Current Song: “State Song of Maine” Grand State of Maine, proudly we sing To tell your glories to the land
Our 21st Century pick: “Maine Island Lovers” by Okkervil River To cheat on Maine islands days of laughter, nights of sighing. To love without ceasing flowering orchards, salty sea-things. To say without shyness “unreal city, you have killed me.”
Maryland Current Song: “Maryland My Maryland” For life and death, for woe and weal, Thy peerless chivalry reveal, And gird they beauteous limbs with steel, Maryland! My Maryland!
Our 21st Century pick: “Going to Maryland” by The Mountain Goats the water’s real cool and the water’s real sweet here’s hoping that no points repeat because i bet against the chances that you’d ever be mine laid everything down on the don’t pass line
