New Jersey State Song

Subject: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 07:12 PM

This problem must be resolved! How can a state function without a state insect, a state flower, a state dinosaur, a state mineral, and, especially, a state song? A song to inspire, to uplift, to make the bosom swell with pride?

From the Associate Press:

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey, the only state without an official song, is considering adopting four of them. Chances are, none of them is on your iPod.

After decades of bickering over which single tune best represents the Garden State, a lawmaker is seeking harmony by naming official songs in four different categories. They're all by New Jersey artists who aren't well known in the music world.

The state's anthem would be Patrick Finley's "New Jersey, My Home;" the pop song would be Mark and Ellen Winter's "Be Proud to Be in New Jersey;" the children's song would be "In New Jersey," which has lyrics inspired by a fourth-grade class; and the ballad would be Nelson Trout's "New Jersey, USA."

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 08:42 PM

Huzzah!!

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 08:46 PM

Howz 'bout that "Dirty Water" song??? Who did that one, anyway...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 09:06 PM

If you're thinking about the same "Dirty Water" song I am, Boberdz, it was about Boston, not NJ. It was by the Standells. I think every wannabe guitar player growin' up in the '60s learned it.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: pdq
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 09:57 PM

trivia:

The song "Dirty Water" was written by Ed Cobb, a founding member of the Four Preps (as in Santa Catalina, aka 26 Miles).

The chief motivating force behind the Four Preps was Glen A. Larson who went on to produce television shows such as "Battle Star Galactica", "Magnum PI" and "Alias Smith and Jones". Wish we had a few TV shows like that now.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 11:58 PM

I think it ought be "The Rolling Mills of New Joisey".

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 12:44 AM

Big Mick got there before me. EB

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: RangerSteve
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:13 AM

We've got all the other state stuff, the flower is the violet, the bird is the goldfinch, the tree is the red maple, the dinosaur is (I think) the hadrosaur, or something like that, the insect is the honeybee, the animal is the horse (a boring choice, but there are lots of horse breeders here). There's even a state soil. Rolling Mills of NJ isn't even a good parody. Written by someone who obviously never even spent a minute in NJ.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:26 AM

We've had one for decades, Rapaire. It's Bruce's "Born To Run", and everyone who's spent any time in Jersey knows that's the 'real' one:

"baby this town rips the bones from your back,
it's a death trap
it's a suicide rap
we got to get out while we're young
'cause tramps like us,
baby we were born to run"

Dani (who love Jersey in spite of itself)

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 10:39 AM

You mean it's different from "By the Rivers Gently Flowing, Illinois" or "Banks of the Wabash"?

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:58 AM

Well, considering that "The Rolling Mills..." was penned by a Brit ex-pat resident in New York, it's a not-surprising parody based on the NJ stereotype... for me it's useful to have those sorts of stories about to limit the population growth. Y' don't want everybody coming in to trample on the Pine Barrens, or all those nice green rural bits, etc.... ;-)

~ Becky, NJ ex-pat now in Arizona (and a frequent defender)

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: dwditty
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 12:07 PM

There really is only one song that adequately captures the feel of New Jersey: GARDEN STATE STOMP

Every word in the song is the name of a town in New Jersey - you can look it up.

dw

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: RangerSteve
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:12 PM

Becky, they are trampling the nice green bits. "They" are yuppies, who want to live in the country and manage to bring the worst of the city with them, mostly in the form of traffic jams and obnoxious behavior. The pinelands are preserved, fortunately, and will never be built up.

Dwditty - Thanks. I forgot that song. It's probably the best Jersey song ever written.

As for "Born to Run", it's a pretty depressing song, and only represents the worst parts of the state. Every state has a part that the residents wish wasn't there. A state song should be one that anyone can sing. Rock songs don't fall into that category.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 09:16 PM

I beg to differ. I just watched THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS sing that song with him at the S'Bowl, and I'm sure they sounded just fine.

I make the suggestion with tongue in cheek, but the parts of Jersey that Bruce sings about are part of the fabric, not just the worst parts. Ask everyone who grew up along Route 9, 130, etc!

State songs are silly. They are kind of like school songs; mostly anthems that are 'for the record', but no one ever really sings them, do they?

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 09:52 PM

Does anyone even know their words?

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ron Davies
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:15 PM

What's that song about "Paddle Down the Rahway"? That's a good one, as I recall. A bit more bucolic than "death-trap, suicide rap". For the Garden State--which is actually more than exit numbers.

Subject: ADD: The Old North State (Gaston/Randolph)
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 07:43 AM

With mixed feelings, I submit the song of my adopted home:

THE OLD NORTH STATE
Written by William Gaston
Composed by Mrs. E. E. Randolph

Carolina! Carolina! Heaven's blessings attend her!
While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her;
Tho' the scorner may sneer at and witlings defame her,
Still our hearts swell with gladness whenever we name her.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Tho' she envies not others, their merited glory,
Say whose name stands the foremost, in Liberty's story,
Tho' too true to herself e'er to crouch to oppression,
Who can yield to just rule a more loyal submission?

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Plain and artless her sons, but whose doors open faster
At the knock of a stranger, or the tale of disaster.
How like the rudeness of the dear native mountains,
With rich ore in their bosoms and life in their fountains.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

And her daughters, the Queen or the forest resembling
So graceful, so constant, yet the gentlest breath trembling.
And true lightwood at heart, let the match be applied them,
How they kindle and flame! Oh! none know but who've tried them.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Then let all those who love us, love the land that we live in,
As happy a region as on this side of heaven,
Where plenty and peace, love and joy smile before us,
Raise aloud, raise together the heart thrilling chorus.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 08:51 AM

Iffen ya think that's bad:

Here We Have Idaho
Written by McKinley Helm & Albert J. Tompkins
Composed by Sallie Hume-Douglas

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.

chorus

And here we have Idaho
Winning her way to fame.
Silver and gold in the sunlight blaze,
and romance lies in her name.
Singing, we're singing of you,
Ah, proudly too,
All our lives thru, we'll go
Singing, singing of you,
Singing of Idaho.

There's truly one state in this great land of ours
Where ideals can be realized.
The pioneers made it so for you and me,
A legacy we'll always prize.

chorus

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 10:31 AM

My comment was tongue in cheek. I lived and worked in New Jersey, and I expect my daughter, when she is on her own, will move back there. I am a Michigan boy, but I loved the place, and its people are unique and greatly misunderstood. Once you get outside of the Newark/Elizabeth areas, and parts of Trenton, New Jersey is really a collection of small towns with a great lifestyle. I lived in Berlin which is in South Jersey, across the bridges from Philly. One could not ask for a nicer place. Spent a great deal of time wandering in the Pine Barrens. I would often go at night, especially foggy nights, and see if I could have an encounter with the Jersey Devil. The old bugger never did show.

It is a great State, with a rich and facinating history, and lovely people with a unique way about them. In my next life, I am going to marry a diner waitress......LOL. Love their attitude!!!

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: PoppaGator
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:28 PM

Before I even started to try selecting any particular song, my immediate reaction was that ONLY a Springsteen song would fill the bill.

"Born to Run" includes a negative thought or two, but the overall feeling and message are quite joyous. I like it!

Also, for the very many members of my (baby-boom) age group, New Jersey was a place to be born and raised and then to leave ~ at least for those of us with thoughts of attending college. For years, New Jersey was #1 among the fifty United States in exporting college students; that is, the highest ratio of college-age citizens to places at in-state institutions (Ohio was the #1 importer of out-of-state college students.)

Anyway, if "Born to Run" paints too negative a picture of The Boss's New Jersey roots, how 'bout "Glory Days"?

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:32 PM

Possibly sung to the tune of "O Tannebaum", a/k/a "Maryland My Maryland":

Michigan, My Michigan
Written by: William Otto Miessner & Douglas M. Malloch

A song to thee, fair State of mine,
Michigan, my Michigan;
But greater song than this is thine,
Michigan, my Michigan;
The whisper of the forest tree,
The thunder of the inland sea;
Unite in one grand symphony
Of Michigan, my Michigan.

I sing a State of all the best,
Michigan, my Michigan;
I sing a State with riches blest,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Thy mines unmask a hidden store,
But richer thy historic lore,
More great the love thy builders bore,
Oh, Michigan, my Michigan.

How fair the bosom of thy lakes,
Michigan, my Michigan;
What melody each river makes;
Michigan, my Michigan;
As to thy lakes the rivers tend,
Thy exiled children to thee send
Devotion that shall never end,
Oh, Michigan, my Michigan.

Thou rich in wealth makes a State,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Thou great in things that make us great,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Out loyal voices sound thy claim
Upon the golden roll of fame
Our loyal hands shall write the name
Of Michigan, my Michigan.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Alice
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:46 PM

I'm with Big Mick. That's the song that came to my mind.
... and what a great singalong it is

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:44 PM

Actually, Rolling Mills came to John while he was in a traffic jam near the Elizabeth Exxon refinery on the NJ Turnpike.
I believe he was on his way to Baltimore for a gig at Bertha's.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:55 PM

Any NJ state song has to mention pork roll. In fact, it could be all about pork roll. That would be good.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:07 PM

Ahh Ruth, at last a voice reason and sanity.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:27 PM

My contacts with New Jersey are via the Turnpike, driving into and through New York City, and Newark Airport.

None of these are very appealing to me.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:35 PM

Get off the Turnpike, Mike, and head east into the areas between it and the ocean. Some really great places. Very pretty State and lovely people.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:44 PM

And try the pork roll.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:48 PM

Most definitely the pork roll. And if you are up for it when you are in South Jersey, give scrapple a try with your eggs. Definitely an acquired taste.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: pdq
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:50 PM

Hoboken Saturday Night ~ Insect Trust

Palisades Park ~ (written by) Chuck Barris

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 02:27 PM

Well, the thing with cliches is that they're true in some cases... there definitely are ugly spots in New Jersey, and more and more of them. You definitely have to get off the Turnpike to see the good stuff!

(But if you want to get from New York City to Baltimore without pause, the Turnpike is the fastest route...)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 02:29 PM

Ah, Scrapple - the compressed scrapings off the abbatoir floor. Very South Philly, though - I think the song should stick to pork roll - or, as some philistines apparently call it, Taylor Ham.


The meat that divides New Jersey

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 02:29 PM

I had forgotten that Chuck Barris wrote "Palisades Park," as recorded by Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon. Palisades Park was a few miles out of my usual orbit ~ I did most of my amusement-park-riding Down The Shore ~ but I went on one group field trip there at about age 10.

Oh, and have that pork roll on a Hard Roll, if you can still find a decent old-style New Jersey bakery.

I left NJ more or less for good in 1961, but thanks to Hurricane Katrina, my family and I spent several interesting months there over the winter of '05-'06. Something that was new to me, that I didn't remember from my childhood/teenage years: several diners offered Taylor ham as a selection you could order with your eggs, an alternative to just-plain "ham," or bacon or sausage. I think that Taylor ham is a brand name for good old pork roll, but I'm not sure. Can anyone clarify this?

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 02:55 PM

have a look at the link I posted, Poppagator - all will become clear.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 03:12 PM

How serendipidous, Ruth ~ you posted while I was typing. I just checked out your link and learned more about taylor ham than I'll ever need to know.

I just joined Facebook last week, so I can officialy sign up with the Friends of Taylor Ham if I want to!

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 03:26 PM

I am no friend of Taylor ham. I am a champion of pork roll.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:11 PM

I was thinking "pork roll -- must be a South Jersey thing?" and sure enough... www.jerseyporkroll.com

~ Becky, a northerner

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:12 PM

New Jersey could do worse than to be without a state song. I grew up in Maryland. It's state song is a lament that the North invaded Maryland during the Civil War. It is very politically uncorrect. Now I live in Virginia. They "did away with" the old state song, "Carry me back to old Virginny" since references to "darkies" and such no longer seemed appropriate. There was an effort to have a "new" state song, but there was no agreement on what it should be and there was great disagreement in reference to the entries in a state-wide contest.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:20 PM

Scrapple is a Pennsylvania import, of course. I suppose if you're talking "pork roll" instead of "Taylor ham" that explains your bringing it up.

(My mother was 1/2 Pennsylvania Dutch, so we had it some, too...)

Where is the line between North & South Jersey? -- I think I posted about this before; now New Jersey: the Movie is out with all the answers. ;-)

Now what I want to know is why today's New York Times (or perhaps that's the answer in itself) would refer to Morris County as "central New Jersey" in their article about yesterday's earthquake. Of course, it is central North Jersey...

~ Becky in Tucson, a Morris County gal

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:38 PM

Shake, Rattle and Roll?
They had an earthquake Yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 05:21 PM

It's simple: if you're from South Jersey, you have a South Jersey accent (closer to a Philly accent). If you have a North Jersey accent (closer to a New York accent; you might even say Joisey - does anyone really say that?), you're from North Jersey.

I think Toms River is still South Jersey, while Trenton pretty much starts North Jersey. Discuss.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 10:03 PM

What the folks in Pennsylvania called "scrapple" we called "panhaus" -- here's a recipe from my Uncle:

Take about a cup of cornmeal, put it in a pan of cold water and stir it somewhat. Put this aside for the time being.

        Put a couple quarts of water in a pan. Dice small a couple of onions and put into this pan. Toss in ham (cut away as much fat as you can) and, if you wish, a hambone. Cook it all together until the onion is cooked.

        When the onion is cooked, pull out the hambone (if any) and put in the cornmeal, water and all.

        Cook it for a couple or five minutes.

        Put in a cup or two of buckwheat and, while cooking, stir it 'til your arm is going to fall off from stirring. Then stir it some more.

        Pour the now-thick mixture into a loaf pan and let it cool.

        To serve, slice it from the loaf and fry in grease until it is crispy on the outside -- has a crispy crust.

        The more ham the better -- cracklings are traditional, "but they're nothin'."

        Play with the recipe 'til you get it to where you like it.

        The corn meal is needed to make the loaf slice well. Don't put the corn meal into the hot water first or you'll have doughballs. Follow the recipe.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:23 AM

I really want to see the film, Becky! The trailer even has pork roll in it. For this South Jersey girl is ALWAYS subs and Wawa, not hoagies and 7-11. :)


The UK has something quite similar to Scrapple, which is called Hazlet. It comes originally from Lincolnshire, where I live. But it's eaten cold and sliced thinly, like a luncheon meat, not fried with breakfast, and is a bit firmer than Scrapple.

It's still vile.

Rapaire, your Scrapple recipe has no spices. The stuff my dad ate (he grew up in Philly) had lots of sage and black pepper in it.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: RangerSteve
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:35 AM

I have a scrapple recipe that uses ground beef. The ingredients for Parks brand lists pork snouts, ears and tails. I always thought Parks was the best scrapple around.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:54 AM

That's the one my dad ate, Steve. As I said earier,"The compressed scrapings off the abbatoir floor."

It's also not a million miles from Irish white pudding.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:12 AM

Ruth, you're cracking me up!

Here's my goodbye to NJ story; we were packing up and cleaning while the moving truck guys loaded up. At some point I said I was running out to the Wawa, and did they want anything. ".... huh?..." not sure what I was offering them. Lord, they were from Alabama, ma'am, and what please is 'WahWahh?'.

It's a store! Would you like some hoagies? Even funnier! They didn't laugh when they ate 'em, though.

There are things to miss about NJ!

Dani (of the Philly end)

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:04 AM

That's because, Ruth, he said you can spice it any way you want. He likes it a bit spicy, but others don't. So he wouldn't give me any spices for it. He also said that you needn't use ham -- you could use any bits of meat you had around, as "they did during the Depression."

My Uncle would not give me his recipes for either sauerkraut or hausenpfieffer -- he said they "weren't very good."

Goetta (pronounced "gerta") is a similar dish from the Cincinnati area.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:24 AM

Atlantic County right here, Dani! Though you intrigue me with your knowledge of Wawa yet your use of "hoagie" instead of "sub"...are you from Camden?

Rapaire - no matter what you call it or where it comes from, it's wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:53 AM

Pork roll is also a tradition in North Jersey, although it is probably more popular in the south.

"Hoagies" is not used as much as it used to, but I do remember in High School here in North Jserey we had an annual "hoagie" sale to support the senior class.   Nowadays "sub" seems to the term everyone uses.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:55 AM

I suspect that's because of ther ubiquitousness of Subway, Ron - we even have them in the UK. Subs? Ha! I wouldn't feed that to my dog.

I may be ever so slightly biased, but I think the subs on the Jersey shore are the best. In the world. Ever.

*I could murder a cheese steak from White House or Sacko's right now!*

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Becca72
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 12:45 PM

"State songs are silly. They are kind of like school songs; mostly anthems that are 'for the record', but no one ever really sings them, do they?"

Dani, I don't know about 'singing' the school song, but I was in the marching band throughout high school and we played the damned thing (it was difficult!) at every home football game.

My ex is from South Jersey. He always says it just that way; not New Jersey, South Jersey. I remember my introduction to Wawa..he ALWAYS had to stop for a soft pretzel (we lived in Vermont) and I grew to love their coffee. He grew up on 'subs' and I grew up with the Maine equivalent 'italian sandwhich'.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:14 PM

I don't pretend to be a native, I did live in South Jersey (Medford, and Berlin) for a little over 3 years. Wawa's is one thing I miss terrible, as my girth can attest. And I only ever heard, in that area, them referred to as hoagies. When I would say "sub" (which is what we would call them in Michigan) I would at least get a look like I had a tail, and at worst get a "you're not from around here, areya, honey?".

As to Philly cheese steaks, all the publicity goes to Pat's or Geno's, but for my money (and most of the locals I know) the best steak in Philly is Tony Luc's. And for those of you not from the area, be warned. When ordering, don't tell 'em you want a cheese steak. The already know that. Just let em know "wit or wit'out" for onions, and what kind of cheese. Whiz, provo, or mozz.

Oh, yeah ...... is there anyplace on earth where you can get a better white pizza w/seafood than South Jersey?

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:32 PM

Philly cheese steaks are an abomination. Tellinya, Mick - if you ever get back, White House Subs in Atlantic City or Sackos in Ventnor - same family, both fabulous (no crazy queues at Sackos, though!). You'll thank me.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:36 PM

Howzabout we meet up in AC or Ventnor and the Subs are on me? I might be there this summer. Might even swap a song or two.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:39 PM

I usually go over every October, during the school holidays - my daughter loves visiting her American family. But this year she's on a school trip to Japan in October, so I'm not sure when our trip will be. But I will keep you posted.

Have you ever made it to the Albert Music Hall in the Pines, for old time Piney music nights? It's great.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:31 PM

more thoughtful post later, but sufficient to say you've moved me to tears of nostalgia... and hunger, damn you!

Ruth. Camden? CAMDEN!! Where I come from them's fightin' words. Actually, damn close : ) Cinnaminson!

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:46 PM

Actually Ruth, Subway really started invading the turf about 10 to 15 years ago. I had heard them referred to as subs much earlier, many Italian deli's proudly proclaimed "subs" in their displays. If you are ever in Bergenfield, Dan's Deli near the high school probably sold more lunches than the school cafeteria.    Hoagies was not uncommon back then, but the sandwich answered to either.

Mick - I've found that there is nothing finer than a Pats cheesteak, but I have to admit that I've never tried Tony Luc's.

Now if you are talking hotdogs- in North Jersey it was a toss up between Callahan's (no longer in business), Hirams, or if you want to travel a bit further - Rutt's Hutt. Try their ripper - it is breathtaking. Literally.

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 08:27 PM

I'm pretty sure that in the early '70s we used to get "subs" for a special dinner from an Italian shop in Madison (adjacent to Florham Park, the hometown) -- which is decidedly North Jersey. But we definitely had "Taylor ham".

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: New Jersey State Song
From: johnross
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 11:19 PM

Dave van Ronk's "Garden State Stomp" is the obvious choice for New Jersey State Song.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:40 AM

Now this has been moved up to the music section, does that mean we shouldn't talk about subs and pork roll anymore? :(

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:44 AM

Dani - but you're on the right side of the river! :D

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: GLoux
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:31 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsfeEvZcTjM

"On the Way to Cape May"

"A love story that begins in Ocean City and wends its way along the Jersey Shore through Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Cape May Court House, Wildwood, and romantic Cape May." (Words and music by Bud Nugent, 1960).

Lyrics:
You looked so very pretty, when we met in Ocean City,
like someone, oh, so easy to adore.
I sang this little ditty, on our way to Ocean City,
heading south along New Jersey's shore.

On the way to Cape May, I fell in love with you.
On the way to Cape May, I saw my dreams come true.
I was taken by your smile, as we drifted by Sea Isle.
My heart was really gone when we reached Avalon.
On the way to Cape May, Stone Harbor's skies were blue.
We were naming the day when Wildwood came in view.
If you're gonna be my spouse, we'd better head for that Court House
On the way to Cape May,
On the way to Cape May.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:35 AM

Funny, I remember when we moved to South Jersey from CA, and I told my friends we were going 'to the beach'. They laughed at me once they realized I was really going 'down the shore'.

I got used to that, and now live in NC, where it's back 'to the beach' : )

Bring me your tired, your hungry:

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=pdirect&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=820507228&Count2=737647652

Dani

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:36 AM

Dani, are those chocolate covered SOFT pretzels?! No WAY...

GLoux, my dad used to sing that bloody song every time we drove down to Cape May or Wildwood. Loudly. Incessantly. Harmonising to himself. Arg.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:38 AM

OMG!!! Look at the care package! Soft pretzels, Tastykakes and Herr's chips!

*swoon*

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 11:29 AM

.... that's what I'm talking about. Butterscotch Krimpets. Peel off the frosting, or just bite in?

Dani

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 11:34 AM

Peel off. Every time.


Don't forget to show some love for the Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:20 PM

When it's appleblossom time in Orange, New Jersey (we'll make a peach of a pair)..

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:48 PM

What a peach on the beach she is charming
What a peach on the beach she is swell
You can bet Nanette
Was the pride and pet
Of the Marlborough Blenheim Hotel

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: ClaireBear
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 04:03 PM

It is just too weird that there are two threads about state songs for New Jersey, but there are. The other one doesn't mention state songs in the thread title, though...

On that other thread, Margaret very kindly posted the lyrics to the song I was thinking of, the John Gorka song, "I'm from New Jersey."

Now I'm NOT from New Jersey, but I get a really detailed picture from that song. Especially the line that goes "I'm from New Jersey/It's like Ohio/But even more so/Imagine that."

Claire

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:48 PM

In Central Jersey, where I grew up (Plainfield), the term was always "sub," not "hoagie." As far as I was ever concerned, the term "hoagie" was used elsewhere as a name for sandwiches more-of-less similiar to real submarine sammiches. Of course, this dates back MANY years before there was any such thing as the Subway chain, or any fast-food chains for that matter.

The sandwiches at Mike's Sub Shop on Washington Ave at North Ave (Rt 28) in Dunellen are pretty hard to beat. (Not to be confused with the johnny-come-lately chain "Jersey Mike's Subs," which is OK but kind of corporate.)

The link that Becky/Desert Dancer provided for a discussion about the dividing line between North and South Jersey, sadly enough, leads to a site where NO messages have been posted, just the title.

To my mind, the dividing line depends upon whether you are defining two areas (north and south), or three (north, central, and south). When I was in high school, the way that the interscholastic sports administration divided the state had four public-school regions (North 1, North 2, Central, and South) but only two private/parochial regions, North and South.

I know that "Parochial South" extended up through Trenton and beyond; my school in Metuchen (northern Middlesex County, near New Brunswick) was even considered "south" in that context, although no one would ever consider that area as anywhere near "South Jersey."

And its' not really "North Jersey," either ~ my old home "tri-county area" of Union/Somerset/Middlesex is pretty definitively Central Jersey, along with Hunterdon and Warren to the west. Central Jersey might extend as far north as Morristown and/or south to Trenton, or at least Princeton.

That public-school-sports division of North Jersey into two halves makes a certain amount of sense. The northeastern part of the state is very urban, very densely populated, while the northwest is hilly, scenic, and "exurban" if not downright rural. The stereotypical "Joisey" accent and culture is really a feature only of the extreme northeastern part of the state, immediately adjacent to NYC; you won't find it in the south, central, or even the northwestern areas.

Subject: ADDPOP: Jersey Girl (Tom Waits)
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:34 PM

Carnsarn it, I was going to suggest "On the Way to Cape May" but GLoux beat me to it. Who can ever forget the Al Alberts rendition?! (Well, just in case you did, here it is: Al Alberts sings "On the Way to Cape May") Now, sing it till ya learn it!

What about Springsteen's "Jersey Girl"? Cross the river to the Jersey side...

I don't understand this nostalgia for Wawa comvenience stores in NJ. Wawa is a Pennsylvania thing, headquartered in (where else?) Wawa, PA. I'm a Pennsylvania girl born and bred, I live in Mudcat Central country in the same town where ancestors from both sides of my family are buried, and there's a Wawa just down the street. Around here, Wawa calls 'em "hoagies". However, there are sub shops as well. I have yet to discover the difference.

As for Tastykake, does anyone besides me remember when peanut butter Kandy Kakes were peanut butter Tandy Takes? This was back when Tastykake only sold their products locally. Those were the days when they would put one long, thick ribbon of icing over the 3 chocolate cupcakes in a pack -- oooh, yeah.

Hey, my stomach just growled. I think I'll log out and go get a roast beef hoagie. Or a cheese steak wit'. And a Tastykake blueberry pie (one o' those little rectangular pies -- yummmm). Maybe some Herr's potato chips, the salt-and-vinegar kind... and a soda. NOT "pop"; "soda"!!!

---

"Jersey Girl" Lyrics added. -Joe Offer-

JERSEY GIRL
(Tom Waits)

I got no time for the corner boys
Down in the street making all that noise
Or the girls out on the avenue
'Cause tonight I wanna be with you

Tonight I'm gonna take that ride
Across the river to the Jersey side
Take my baby to the carnival
And I'll take her on all the rides

'Cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a Saturday night
You know all my dreams come true
When I'm walking down the street with you

Sing sha la la la, sha la la la, sha la la la
Sha la la la I'm in love with a Jersey girl
Sha la la la, sha la la la, sha la la la

You know she thrills me with all her charms
When I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms


Words and music by Tom Waits. Also recorded by Bruce Springsteen

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/jersey-girl-lyrics-tom-waits.html ]

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: pdq
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:46 PM

I just spied a song by Herman Hupfeld, the man who wrote "As Time Goes By".

It is called "A Hut in Hoboken".

Might be a little dated, eh?

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:15 PM

Jesus - someone's mentioned Al Alberts.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 07:09 AM

Over in the Seamus and the Tornado thread, a few Jersey songs are mentioned. Anyone familiar with those?

Dani

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 07:50 AM

"I don't understand this nostalgia for Wawa convenience stores in NJ. Wawa is a Pennsylvania thing"

THey're very big in South Jersey too. My cousin's daughter is at Drexel in Philly, and they have a 7-11 on her corner. She has to go home to the Jersey shore for Wawa.

"As for Tastykake, does anyone besides me remember when peanut butter Kandy Kakes were peanut butter Tandy Takes?"

I thought I'd dreamed that! I almost wrote it that way earlier in the thread and then I was like, "Where the hell did THAT come from?!"

"This was back when Tastykake only sold their products locally. Those were the days when they would put one long, thick ribbon of icing over the 3 chocolate cupcakes in a pack -- oooh, yeah."

Right there with you on that one. Do they sell out of the region now?

I remember the first time I walked into a Tesco in England some years ago and saw ENTENMANN's cakes! That was weird - there were parts of New Jersey where you didn't even get Entenmann's when I was a kid, but there they were in Staffordshire.

And now, to show that growing up in the Delaware Valley wasn't just about food...


Oh, the horror...

the horror!!!!

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:19 PM

NO SHIT! Larry Ferrari!

Didn't he used to play organ demos at the Cherry Hill (or Moorestown?) Mall? I actually think he may have played once at the rollerrink, too...

We weren't allowed to watch Al Alberts OR Captain Noah... my mother was afraid, very afraid.

Dani

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:22 PM

I've joined the Facebook group for Captain Noah! LOL!

My family adored Al Alberts. Nuff said.

Here's a rumour I remember - or is it an urban legend? Was Larry Ferrari the brother of ukelele-playing freak Tiny Tim?

Look at the face...

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:32 PM

Not according TO THIS, Ruth.

Mick

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:46 PM

See, that's disappointing. As I'm sure it was a rumour I helped to perpetuate for years. LOL!

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 01:06 PM

Look what just popped into my Facebook mailbox:

Piney Power!

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 01:30 PM

I lived in Berlin, which is right on the edge of all that beauty. There are some cool, abandoned towns and buildings all through that area.

One thing I noticed was the deer in that area are incredibly small I asked a friend what type of deer they were, and he thought they were whitetails. I don't think so, as I come from an area where whitetails are plentiful and they are never that small when full grown. I am wondering if they don't have a herd of fallow deer, maybe that escaped from a breeder or something. I used to see them a lot along the AC Expressway, and the Garden State Parkway. Very small, look almost the size of spring born fawns in Michigan.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 01:48 PM

See, compared to the deer you get in the UK those big! I've always heard them referred to as white-tail. At certain times of the year you see more dead ones on the side of the road than you do live ones walking around - that always creeped me out.

I love going looking for ghost towns in the pines. Amazing scenery,too. You can go Jersey Devil hunting from the camp at Mount Misery!

I have a lot of family around Hammonton and Mays Landing. But I love going to the general store at Chatsworth!

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 02:34 PM

Mick, They are definately White-tail deer. If they're bigger in Michigan, maybe it's because the food supply is greater there. And there's probably more room. There isn't much grass in the pine barrens, and few leafy trees. White-tail are the only deer in NJ.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 02:46 PM

I am sure you are right, Steve, but these are sooooooo small. You often see them at night, grazing beside the ACX.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 02:48 PM

Yup - that's the guys.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 02:13 PM

Used to love canoeing with my family (and the Appalachian Mountain Club) in the Pine Barrens...

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 04:32 PM

Ruth: Nope, it wasn't a dream. You asked if Tastykake sells out of the region now. According to the Tastykake website, "The Company's core geographic region expands out from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, west to Cleveland, Ohio; north to Northern New Jersey; south to Northern Virginia; and east to the Eastern Shore of Maryland."

Also on their website, a "Statement on Peanut Butter":
"In light of the expanded recall of peanut butter and peanut butter-based products, Tasty Baking Company announced today [Jan 18, 2009] that all Tastykake products, including the iconic Peanut Butter Kandy Kake, are safe for consumption and not included in the national recall program. Tasty Baking Company does not have a supplier relationship with Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). Further, Tasty Baking Company continues to uphold its nearly century-long reputation for quality assurance on its ingredient supply chain. This corporate quality assurance program includes rigorous internal testing of ingredients, including peanut butter, for any bacteria, such as Salmonella, or contamination."
(Sign of the times, eh? Talk about "the horror"!)

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 11:42 PM

Refreshing for more on the regions of the great state of New Jersey:

yes, Wikipedia...

North Jersey
South Jersey
Central Jersey

and, I had no idea:

East Jersey
West Jersey

~ Becky in Tucson
Native of North Jersey
(there's no way you can call Morris County any part of Central Jersey)

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: GUEST,TonyA
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 11:07 AM

quote: I think Toms River is still South Jersey, while Trenton pretty much starts North Jersey. Discuss.

I would say it's the opposite.

Trenton, where I grew up, has a southern accent, and it always felt culturally closer to Philadelphia and to Burlington and Camden counties. Princeton is northern, so the boundary must still be somewhere around Province Line Road.

Toms River, where I live now, makes me feel homesick for the south. It's geographically south of Trenton, but it has a northern accent, and almost everyone who lives here is originally from the Newark area and they still go into Manhattan for shopping and entertainment.

I'm not a baseball fan, but the Yankees/Phillies map (at the "Where is the line between North & South Jersey?" site that someone else linked to) matches my sense of north and south. The first shore town I would unequivocally call southern is Tuckerton, as the map suggests.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 12:06 PM

I was about to add "I Love NY" as the state song of NY - as a joke. But it's not, a joke that is.


http://www.50states.com/songs/

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 12:26 PM

Usually at this time of year I'm in NJ, so htis thread is making me homesick all over again!

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: dwditty
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 03:23 PM

I posted a link to THIS SONG above - Garden State Stomp (as recorded by Dave Van Ronk). There is certainly no argument that it is pure NJ as every word is the name of a place in the Garden State::
^^

1st Verse

Allamuchy
Hacklebarney
Rockaway
Piscataway.

HoHoKus
Secaucus
Lower Squankum
Fair Play.

Wanamassa
Succasunna
Manumuskin
Plumbsock.

BiValve
Buckshutem
Turkey Foot
Macanippock.

Jugtown
Feebletown
Nummytown
Rahway...
2

2nd Verse

Wickatunk
Manunka Chunk
Mantua
Mizpah.

Manasquan
Raritan
Matawan
Totowa.

Whippany
Parsippany
Penny Pot
Hackensack.

Batsto
Nesco
Metedeconk
Peapack.

Loch Arbour
Egg Harbor
Swinesburg
Caviar?
3

3rd Verse (A little faster)

Cheesequake
Boy Scout Lake
Moonachie
Tenafly.

Netcong
Watchung
Pluckemin
Mount Misery.

Bardonia
Ironia
Colonia
Weehawken.
Manahawkin
Mantoloking
Mahalala
Pennsauken.

Dutchtown
Ironbound
Frelinghuysen
and Lodi...
4

4th Verse (Still faster)

Hardscrabble
Double Trouble
Picatinny
Montague.

Muckshaw Pond
Oakanickon
Espanong
Ocean View.

Navesink
Shabakunk
Ongs Hat
Jumbo.

Wortendyke
Waterwitch Park
Blue Ball
Ringoes.

Matchaponix
Delawanna
Wawayanda

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: RangerSteve
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:49 PM

Dwditty, thanks for the lyrics. I noticed you put a ? after Caviar. I assume you weren't sure about that one. Yes, there's a Caviar on the Delaware Bay, along the path that sturgeon used to take on their way up the Delaware River. Sturgeon roe was a major industry there at one time. There's not much left of the town, and no signs that it was ever a big deal.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: EBarnacle
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:17 AM

My friend Bob Killian wrote the definitive song to the Jersey shore many years ago:

I like the white sand beaches,
I like the deep blue sea,
I like the seafood and peaches,
I like the Bi Ki Ni's

Some people go to the mountains
But tell me what Summer's for--
Having some fun in the surf and the Sun,
I like the Jersey Shore.

That's just the chorus.

All positive, all about enjoying New Jersey things.

By the way, I spent most of my childhood in Woodbridge Township.

Subject: RE: New Jersey State Song
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:24 PM

What? No votes for "Jerseywocky?" 8-)

-- Gary