Song with all 50 states mentioned

Subject: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From:
Date: 26 Jun 98 - 01:31 PM

Does anyone know where I can find the text of the song that mentions all 50 United States. please email me @ [e-mail] thanks to everyone

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See What did Delaware - Index of Threads

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: jehill
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 04:46 AM

Are you thinking of the song that Perry Como did back in 1960 called "Delaware" that started "What did Delaware, boys? What did Delaware?"

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: jehill
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 05:22 AM

Go to http://kididdles.com/mouseum/w007.html
These lyrics do not seem quite as I remember the Perry Como record but as the song's older than that who knows which is original?
As I remember the end of the the first verse it went :
She wore a brand New Jersey
She wore a brand New Jersey
She wore a brand New Jersey
That's what she did wear.

Hope this helps.
Er... and I thought you had 52 states nowadays.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: DWDitty
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 06:37 AM

Check out Dave Van Ronk's version of New Jersey Stomp - every word in the song is the name of a town in New Jersey. I once heard him do it live, after which someone yelled, "What exit?"

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 07:14 AM

The song WHAT DID DELAWARE, etc. was brought up on the form a year or more ago, and folks were adding verses for several weeks. I don't know whether it made it into the DT corpus or not, but Joe Offer posted a passel of lyrics on 9 February 98.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Alice
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 12:57 PM

jehill... 52 states? What did you think we added?

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: gatyam gal
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 04:03 PM

I think the song you are looking for is Fifty Nifty United States. We sang this song in grade school. If no one else can find the words, I will post them in a couple days. This gives me a chance to contact my grade school music teacher and I'm sure she has a copy somewhere. Over the years, I dropped the melody and just started reciting the states in alphabetical order. I can now recite all the states in less than 20 seconds. It impressed my daughter's fourth grade class a few years ago. I'll never forget one of her classmates in the hallway at open house, tugging on her mother's sleeve, pointing me out and saying, "Mom, that lady can say the ALPHABET backwards!" I didn't correct her, I just smiled!

Sincerely, gatyam gal

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Roger Himler
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 07:45 PM

For those of you with short memories, Lou and Peter Berryman have a generic state song, "Your State's Name Here." You could just sing it 50 times and have all the states covered:}.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAT DID DELAWARE?^^^
From:
Date: 29 Jun 98 - 08:41 AM

Thanks for all of your responses. I was able to find Joe Offer's posting on Feb 9th of this year...here is what he listed

WHAT DID DELAWARE?
(Traditional, as far as I know)

1. What did Delaware, boys,
What did Delaware?
What did Delaware, boys,
What did Delaware?
I ask you now as a personal friend,
What did Delaware?

She wore her New Jersey, boys (six times)
I tell you now as a personal friend,
She wore her New Jersey.

2. What did Idaho, boys….
She hoed her Maryland, boys…

3. What did Ioway, boys…
She weighed a Washington, boys…

4. How did Wiscon-sin, boys…
She stole a New-bras-key, boys…

5. What did Tennessee, boys…
She saw what Arkansaw, boys…

6. How did Flora-die, boys…
She died in Missouri, boys…

7. Where has Oregon, boys…
She's gone to Oklahom, boys…

a. How did Connecti-cut, boys…
He cut with his Arkan-saw…

b. Where has Ore-gone, boys…
She's taking Okla-home….

c. Where else has Ore-gone, boys…
She went to pay her Texas….

d. What else did Delaware, boys….
She wore her North Da-coat, boys…..

e. What did Missi-sip, boys…
She sipped her Minne-soda, boys…

[numbered verses found in "Wee Sing Silly Songs," by Pamela Conn Beall & Susan Hagen Nipp. Additional verses (with letters) from "A Prairie Home Companion Folk Song Book," by Marcia and Jon Pankake. The Pankakes say the tune is "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More." I'd say the tune is similar, but not exactly the same. -Joe Offer-]

thanks everyone.^^^

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Allan C.
Date: 29 Jun 98 - 02:51 PM

I'm not so sure as to what she wore. Idaho. Alaska!

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: jehill
Date: 30 Jun 98 - 04:06 AM

Mebbee I can't count.... I'm English y'know. I have an American flag about somewhere but its only got 48 stars.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 98 - 02:00 PM

I think there's a song with a list of the fifty states set to a familiar melody (for use as a mnemonic device), but I don't have access to my vast library of corny songs out here in the desert. It could be in the Prairie Home Companion Folk Song Book, but I didn't bring that with me, either. It's bugging me that I can't remember it - can anybody help?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Roger Himler
Date: 30 Jun 98 - 04:30 PM

jehill,

Just to bring a Britisher up-to-date. The last two states added were Alaska and Hawaii, bringing the 48 states of the early 20th century up to 50. Current US flags have 50 stars.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: jehill
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 01:11 PM

Er... you mean my flag's no good anymore?...

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Tara_B
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 04:21 PM

gatyam gal,

If you have the words to "Fifty Nifty," or, better still, abc of the tune, please post it!

I remeber singing that song in grade school, but haven't heard it since. I would love to teach it to my kids, but all I remember is the first few lines.

I can sing the alphabet backwards though - to a different tune than the traditional alphabet song. I learned that from the same music teacher.

-Tara

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Bert C.
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 12:38 PM

Saturday morning I stumbled across the Animaniacs cartoon show in time to hear Wakko do a song with all fifty states AND their capitals! If only I had my VCR on. Maybe you can catch it on the reruns.

Bert C.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From:
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 10:29 PM

There is also a song named "I've Been Everywhere" which was popularized by Hank Snow in the 50's or 60's. I believe it covers all the states. I have a copy - I 'll have to check it out.

Subject: ADD: Fifty Nifty United States
From: Nora
Date: 07 Jul 98 - 12:28 AM

Yet another instance where lack of access to a turntable is preventing me from finding the lyrics. I have a recording of Fifty Nifty United States made in 1976 by the Monroe Melotones, my 6th grade choir. When we performed it live, each of the fifty of us held up a sign with the name of the state as we sang the name of that state. I had North Dakota. Whoever was in the center at the back row always got Minnesota, and had to wave it around for quite a while at the end.

Fifty Nifty United States
From thirteen original colonies
Fifty Nifty stars on the flag that
billows so beautifully in the breeze

[missing verse??? maybe??]

Shout em, scout em
tell all about em
One by one
til we've given a day
to every state that's
In the USA
In the USA

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California
Colorado, Connecticut. Delaware, Florida, Georgia
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Massachussets, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey
New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont
Virgina, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

North South
East West
Oooh

In our cool, considered, objective, unprejudiced opinion,
[your state's name here] is the best
Of the fifty nifty United States
from Thirteen original colonies

my memory gives out here. There may or may not be more.

I'll bet the sheet music is available at a library or somewhere.

Nora

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,aj
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 12:18 PM

Just to let Nora know, it is not:

Shout em, scout em
tell all about em
One by one
til we've given a day
to every state that's
In the USA

It Is:

Shout em, scout em
tell all about em
One by one
til we've given a name
to every state that's
In the USA

I learned this song in 5th grade at my elementary school, and i'm thinking about going back and borrowing a book from the music teacher there so that i can post the words up for everyone that would like them, i will also attempt to bring up the sheet music on the computer.
Thanks, and good luck,
aj

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: JWB
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 03:03 PM

The group Rockapella has a song from their Where in the World is Carmen San Diego days that contains the capitals of 49 states (they left one out of the song, and use this ommission later on the album for some humor). It's a great song, with the names of the cities coming lickety split. The chorus goes:

Just one city in every state,
Where the shiny politicians get to stay up late.
Lots of Honest Abes kissing babes, making each state great.
CAPITALS!!

Definitely not your usual elementary school song.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:21 AM

There used to be a take away/dine in just up teh road from me called
"The Taik Hawaii"

Robin

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,KT, cookieless at the moment
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 11:28 AM

The missing piece from the "Fifty Nifty" song above, is

Each individual state contributes a quality that is great
Each individual state deserves a bow. We salute them now."

Fifty nifty, etc.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Jacob B
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 04:12 PM

I'm amazed to see that no one has mentioned "Holiday For States" by Allen Sherman. It lists all fifty states (in no particular order) to the tune of "Holiday For Strings".

Subject: Lyr Add: HOLIDAY FOR STATES (Allan Sherman)
From: Jacob B
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 04:47 PM

HOLIDAY FOR STATES
Words, Allan Sherman. Music, David Rose "Holiday for Strings" (1942)
As recorded by Allan Sherman on "Allan in Wonderland" (1964)

There are songs about Montana,
And New York and Indiana,
But the song the nation patiently awaits
Is the song I now will bring you,
As I clear my throat and sing you
A love song to the whole United States.
I love you--

District of Columbia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Alabama, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota,
Oklahoma, West Virginia,
California, Georgia, Texas, Maine.

Mississippi, Washington, South Carolina, Arkansas,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Iowa,
Nevada, Kansas, Arizona,
Colorado, Michigan.

New Jersey.
New York, New Mexico.
Ohio, Illinois.
Missouri, Indiana and Montana.
Nebraska!
Alaska!

Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, Utah, Maryland,
Kentucky, Oregon, Rhode Island,
Idaho, Hawaii,
And Vermont, Virginia, Delaware,
Wyoming, and Connecticut!

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Joybell
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 05:00 PM

From the already listed "What did Delaware..." song I remember -(phonectically speaking)

Why did Calif phone ya? Why did Cala phone?
She phoned to say Haw ii ya. (pushing it there a bit)
                                 Joy

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: aibreán
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 08:07 PM

I've heard a similar one as "Fifty Nifty ", with the list alphabetized, but all I remember is:

Alabama, and Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, and Connecticut and more
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii, Idaho
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, still 35 to go...
...
Nebraska's 27, number 28's Nevada...(memory fades)

Is this indeed "Fifty Nifty ", and if not, is anyone familiar with it?


A.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 11:44 PM

This is the song with all 50 States in alphabetical order!!!
In my opinion much better than the nifty fifty. Much easier to remember if your a kid.

Alabama and Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, and Connecticut and more.

Delaware, Florida, Georgia and Hawaii, Idaho.
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, still 35 to go.

Kansas and Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine.
Maryland, Massachusetts, and good ole Michigan.

Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, and Montana,
Nebraska's 27, number 28's Nevada.

Next, New Hampshire and New Jersey,
And way down, New Mexico.

Then New York, North Carolina, North Dakota,
O - Hi - O.

Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
now let's see.

Rhode Island, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee.

Texas, then there's Utah.
Vermont, I'm almost through.
Virginia, then there's Washington
and West Virginia, too.

Could Wisconsin be the last one
in the 49?

No, Wyoming is the last state
in the 50 states that rhyme.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,Anne
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 06:39 PM

I've been looking for years for a song that has the fifty states by region. We sang it in third grade, and I can only remember parts of it. Here's what I have:

To prove my dedication to the country I love best,
I'll recite the states by region, from the East out to the West...

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connetticut; New England is their name.

New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania make up the Mid-Atlantic states.

Delaware and Maryland (by Washington, D.C.), Virginia and West Virginia; then there's Kentucky,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennesee,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missisippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas make up the Southern states. Here comes the Mid-west, I need a breath, or maybe just a little rest...

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin,
there's Michigan and Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri,
Kansas, Nebraska, South and North Dakota,

(okay, that's where my memory gives out, until the very end of the song:)

Washington and Oregon and Californ-i-a.
Hawaii and Alaska are the two far away!
And I'm proud to pledge allegiance to the U. S. of A.!


Does anyone happen to know the missing part?

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,DaveC
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 10:03 AM

Animaniacs capital song.

Tune for almost all of it is "Turkey in the Straw" last line "Shave and a haircut"

Tha Animaniacs are the only cartoon show I find funny.


Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Indianapolis, Indiana,
And Columbus is the capital of Ohio,
There's Montgomery, Alabama south of Helena Montana,
Then there's Denver Colorado, and Boise Idaho.

Texas has Austin, then we go north
To Massachusetts, Boston and Albany, New York,
Tallahasseee, Florida and Washington, D.C.,
Santa Fe, New Mexico and Nashville Tennesee.

Trenton's in New Jersey, north of Jefferson, Missourri,
You've got Richmond in Virginia, South Dakota has Pierre,
Harrisburg's in Pennsylvania, and Augusta's off in Maine and
Here is Providence, Rhode Island next to Dover, Delaware.

Concord New Hampshire, just a jaunt
To Monmtpelier, which is up in Vermont,
Hartford in Connecticut so pretty in the fall,
Kansas has Topeka, Minnesota has St. Paul.

Juneau's in Alaska and there's Lincoln in Nebraska, and
It's Raleigh out in North Carolina and then,
There's Madison Wisconsin and Olympia in Washington,
Phoenix, Arizona and Lansing Michigan.

East Honolulu Hawaii' s a joy,
Jackson Mississippi and Springfield, Illinois,
South Carolina with Columbia down the way,
And Annapolis in Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay.

Cheyenne is in Wyomin' and perhaps you make your home in
Salt lake City out in Utah where the buffalo roam,
Atlanta's down in Georgia and here's Bismarck North Dakota,
And you can live at Frankfort in your old Kentucky home.

Salem in Oregon ----from there we join,
Little Rock in Arkansas, Iowa's got Des Moines,
Sacramento California, Oklahoma and its city,
Charleston, West Virginia, and Nevada, Carson City.

That's all the capitals there are.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 11:30 AM

I've lived in yorkshire all my life an di've never heard of them. Must be around Sheffield somewhere

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From:
Date: 19 May 04 - 02:04 PM

try visiting http://www.ipledgesong.com to hear a brief clip of i pledge song, a new partner song blending the u.s. pledge of allegiance, the national motto, and the 50 songs in alpha order.   the cd can be ordered at the website and includes 15 learning and performance tracks that classroom and music teachers can use to prepare students in grades K-5 to perform the song in pieces, and finally, altogether.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,Nancy
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 03:03 PM

Yeah, i sang it one summer in a 4th of july program when i was 10 or 11, i was going to post it but it's already on here somewhere...

I acctually still know that teacher, i could get a copy of the music.

dunno if any emails will come through but my email addy is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 04:14 PM

Then there's the state of UK, with Governer Blair, which supported the Prez in his little adventure in Iraq!
Giok

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,Robert
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 02:25 PM

This link has the lyrics to What Did Delaware?

http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/w007.html

Also available for download from iTunes Music Store. Search on Delaware will bring it up first on list.

Robert

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 19 Sep 05 - 07:52 AM

And I've heard the 50 states done to the tune of 'Modern Major General', from HMS Pinafore. I think they were in alphabeticial order, but not sure....

Not recommended, as G+S can be a real pain to sing sometimes, but really quite impressive regardless.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,Kelly
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 08:28 PM

The name to the song posted on 01 Feb 04 - 11:44 PM is "fifty states in Rhyme" just to let everyone know

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:43 PM

Allen Sherman's "Holiday For States"

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,ash
Date: 05 Jul 07 - 11:21 PM

Anne
Don't quote me but i think its something like this ....then montana Idaho nevada utah too, colorado arizona southwest in veiw oklahoma then down to texas new mexico
wait a sec dont stop yet we've five to go s

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,Allen Sherman
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 09:40 PM

Allen Sherman's "Holiday for States" does not mention Arizona, and henceforth does not qualify as a song with ALL 50 states mentioned

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 11:17 PM

Try Alan Sherman's "Holiday For States".

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,Bridget Cassé in England
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 04:55 PM

Hi, everyone

I remember this song from way, way back, sung by Perry Como. Don't any of you spellcheck your emails?! How I wish that some of the respondents could spell their own States - which I find very worrying!

The version I remember - and the tune - did not include the line "I ask you now as a personl friend."

I think that the first verse went:

Oh, what did Delaware?
What did Delaware?
what did Delaware, boys?
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.


I'm concerned that our US friends don't seem to know their own States, or the spellings. I bet they don't know the counties of England ... (It's OK, neither do I!)

This litany has been on my mind recently. It would be good to get a definitive version of all 50 States (actually, I thought there were 52 - would be grateful for confirmation).

Regards - Bridget Cassé

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 10:15 PM

There is a song that says "Fifty nifty united states from 13 original colonies..."
Here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpyJ60cuuKA
It isn't kids singing it, it's the actual song
I hope this helped someone :-)

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: open mike
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 01:01 PM

refresh...

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: GUEST,All 50 states are mentioned
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 03:59 PM

Although someone took the trouble to write out the lyrics, they didn't take the trouble to write out the lyrics correctly. Arizona is mentioned. Take a listen. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Song with all 50 states mentioned
From: open mike
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 04:50 PM

I jsut heard a song by Verlon Thompson who plays and tours with Guy Clark which mentions a lot of the places they play...,darned near 50 of them...

The song "I've been everywhere" mentions most of 'em
often heard by Johnny Cash....most recently in a motel commercial
it starts out:
I was totin' my pack along The dusty Winemuccca road
When along came a semi with High and canvas covered load

here is a goofy version...by a ventriloquist and her 2 "dummies"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUunRWoxYIA&feature=related