I came across this song on a Nancy LaMott recording last night, and thought it was a perfect tribute to the two loveliest women in my life - my wife and my mother-in-law, who are both from Woonsocket.

RHODE ISLAND IS FAMOUS FOR YOU
(Howard Dietz, lyrics; Arthur Schwarts, music)

Ev'ry state has something
Its Rotary Club can boast of;
Some product that the state
Produces the most of.
Rhode Island is little, but oh my,
It has a product anyone would buy.

REFRAIN I
Copper comes from Arizona,
Peaches come from Georgia,
And lobsters come from Maine.
The
Wheat fields
Are the sweet fields
Of Nebraska,
And Kansas
Gets bonanzas
From the grain.
Old whiskey
Comes from old Kentucky,
Ain't the country lucky?
New Jersey gives us glue.
And you,
You come from Rhode Island,
And little old
Rhode Island
Is famous for you!

REFRAIN 2
Cotton comes from Loosiana,
Gophers from Montana,
And spuds from Idaho.
They plow land
In the cow land
Of Missoura,
'Where mostbeef
Meant for roast beef
Seems to grow.
Grand Canyons
Come from Colorada,
Gold comes from Nevada,
Divorces also do.
Andyou,
You come from Rhode Island,
And little old
Rhode Island
Is famous for you!

REFRAIN 3
Pencils
Come from Pencilvania,
Vests from Vest Virginia
And tents from Tentasee.
They know mink
Where they grow mink
In Wyomink.
A camp chair
In New Hampchair,
That's for me.
And minnows
Come from Minnowsota,
Coats come from Dacoata,
But why should you be blue?
For you,
You come from Rhode Island,
Don't let them ride Rhode Island;
It's famous for you!


from the 1948 musical, Inside U.S.A.

Schwartz and Dietz are better-known for "Dancing in the Dark," "That's Entertainment," "You and the Night and the Music," and the lovely "Triplets." [grin]

I found the lyrics in a new book, Reading Lyrics (2000, Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball) which has hundreds of these old chestnuts.

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Oh, Cranky Yankee, I dedicate this song to you, too.
-Joe Offer-