Official State Songs Vs. Cultural Anthems: Which Tunes Actually Represent Us?
By Sophia Al-Mansoor
State legislatures have taken vastly different approaches to their sonic identity. Some states designate a single untouchable ballad, while others pass resolutions designating separate state rock songs, state folk songs, and even state polkas.
| State | Statutory Song (Year Passed) | De Facto Cultural Anthem | Legal Status & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | "Georgia on My Mind" (1979) | "Georgia on My Mind" (Ray Charles) | Replaced "Our Georgia" (adopted 1922); fully reconciled with public preference. |
| Tennessee | "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925) + 9 others | "Rocky Top" (Felice and Boudleaux Bryant) | Tennessee holds 10 official state songs; added "Rocky Top" as an official song in 1982. |
| West Virginia | "The West Virginia Hills" (1960) | "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (John Denver) | Legislature resolved the gap in 2014 by designating Denver's 1971 hit as an official co-anthem. |
| New Jersey | None (No official song) | "Born to Run" (Bruce Springsteen) | The only US state without a legal song; a 1979 resolution named Springsteen's track "youth rock anthem." |
| Maryland | Repealed in 2021 (Vacant) | None universally accepted | Repealed "Maryland, My Maryland" due to Confederate-sympathizing lyrics; currently has no anthem. |
| Washington | "Washington, My Home" (1959) | "Louie Louie" (Richard Berry / The Kingsmen) | A 1985 legislative effort to replace the official song with "Louie Louie" failed, but made it "cool rock anthem." |
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