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Best best ballads that refer to a US State

Recently, there was a long discussion focused on the business merits of one US state.  It got me thinking about getting back to music and the ballads that refer to so many great places in the US.  So do you have a list (top 3-5) of favorite ballads that refer to a US state?

My list:
1) California Dreaming,  Mamas & Papas
2) Take Me Home Country Road (Almost heaven, West Virginia), John Denver
3) Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd
4) Please come to Boston (man from Tennessee), Dave Loggins
5) Colder Weather (Colorado), Zak Brown Band
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stuartk
2,395 posts
 
Sweet Home Alabama is a "ballad" ???

Hmm... learn something new every day. 

In that case, my vote is "Montana" by F. Zappa...  

fyn
35 posts
 
Here are a few from Carmen Gomes Inc' s Masterpiece;
up-jumped-the-devil-discovering-the-music-of-robert-johnson

  1. Tunica; the town where Robert's wife and infant child dies during childbirth

  2.          Hellhound On My Trail; ‘“blues fallin' down like hail, and the days keeps on worryin' me, there's a hellhound on my trail.”

  3. Rosedale, the town where RJ was en route to Tunica when she died.

  4.           Up Jumped the Devil;  “the blues fell mama's child, tore me all upside down.”

  5. Dark Corner Cemetery, where his wife and infant child got buried.

  6.                 Come On In My Kitchen;  “it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors.”

  7. Penton, the town where they got married

  8.                         When You Got A Good Friend;  “that will stay right by your side, give her all of your spare time, love and treat her right.”

  9. Robinsonville, the location of the juke Joint where Son House, who had a big influence on Robert, played.

  10.                  Ease The Pain; “love is best left alone.”

  11. Hazlehurst where R.J. went to look for his father but instead found the mysterious virtuoso guitarist Robert Zimmerman who learned R.J. to really play.

  12.           Love in Vain ; “I felt so lonesome and I could not help but cry.”

  13.  Clarksdale 61/49, the train leaves the station and later at the crossroads Robert sells his soul to the Devil, in order to gain complete mastery.

  14.              Stop Breaking Down;  “The stuff I got'll bust your brains out, it'll make you lose your mind.”

  15.  Martinsville, Robert falls in love again but the girlfriend, despite being pregnant, does not want to live with him, he goes back on the road. Never to settle anywhere again.



rockyboris
40 posts
 
Ohio. CSNY
213runnin
914 posts
 

Glen Campbell- By The Time I Get to Phoenix.

Tom Jones - Green Green Grass of Home

Eagles - Take it Easy

Linda Ronstadt - Adios. Look this ballad up if you aren’t familiar with it.  Linda was at her peak vocally(which she stayed at for a long time)

Ran away from home when I was seventeen 

To be with you, on the California coast…

 

notlistening
33 posts
 

Perry Como easily wins this contest with "Delaware"...

 

"Delaware"
Oh, what did Delaware boy what did Delaware?

What did Delaware boy, what did Delaware?
She wore a brand New Jersey, she wore a brand New Jersey
She wore a brand New Jersey, that's what she did wear

Oh, why did California, why did Californ?
Why did California, was she all alone?
She called to say Hawaii, she called to say How are ya
She called to say how are ya, that's why she did phone

Oh, what did Mississip boy, what did Missi sip?
What did Missi sip boy, through her pretty lips
She sipped a Minnesota, she sipped a mini soda
She sipped a mini soda, that's what she did sip

Oh, where has Oregon boy, where as Ora gone?
If you want Alaska, I'll ask her where she's gone
She went to pay her Texas, she went to pay her taxes
She went to pay her Taxes, that's where she has gone

Oh, how did Wisconsin boy, she stole a NeBras-ky
Too bad that Arkan-sas boy, and so did Tenne-see
It made poor Flora-di, it made poor Flora-di you see
She died in Missouri boy, she died in Misery

Oh, what did Delaware, boy what did Delaware
What did Delaware boy, what did Delaware
More to discover