If We Give You the Lyric, Can You Fill In the State?

Jonnathan Chadwick

Sweet home _______, where the skies are so blue ...

In 1973 American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released "Sweet Home Alabama," which went on to gain massive success and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song is heard in countless films, TV shows and karaoke bars.

All my exes​ live in _______ and _______ is the place I'd dearly love to be.

The "King of Country," George Strait, released the classic song, "All My Exes Live in Texas," in 1987. The song has been covered several times by a number of different bands and was even mentioned by rapper Drake in a 2011 hit song featuring Lil Wayne.

The Devil went down to _______. He was lookin' for a soul to steal.

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is a song by the Charlie Daniels Band that was released on their 1979 album, "Million Mile Reflections." Since then, there have been numerous covers and parodies, ranging from the rock band, Primus, to Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Deep down in ________ close to New Orleans. Way back up in the woods among the evergreens ...

Before Elvis, the Beatles and James Brown, there was Chuck Berry, who many consider the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll." His 1958 hit song, "Johnny B. Goode," was a follow-up to previous hits "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956) and "Rock and Roll Music" (1957).

Pennies in a stream, Falling leaves a sycamore, Moonlight in _______ ...

"Moonlight in Vermont" was written and released in 1944 and is considered the unofficial state song of Vermont. Since then, it has been covered by Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday and others.

Secret fascination, whisper a quiet tune, hear me callin' you, ________ moon, I'll wait for you tonight.

In 2005, the Alt/Indie band known as Foo Fighters released this ode to Virginia titled, "Virginia Moon." The song went on to receive a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2006, losing to Gorillaz and De La Soul for "Feel Good Inc."

What did ________ boy, what did ________? She wore a brand New Jersey, she wore a brand New Jersey.

The song, "Delaware," was released just after Christmas in 1959 by Perry Como and makes reference to more than 15 U.S. states. The state references in the song are puns, as evidenced by this lyric, which makes it a fun song. It reached the 22nd spot on the Billboard charts in 1960.

How do you do young fellow and how would you like to go and spend a pleasant summer, out in _____ ______?

In 1964, country music legend Johnny Cash released "New Mexico" on his album titled "The Original Sun Sound of Johnny Cash." In 2003,​ the album was re-released with an additional five songs to much fanfare.

Dreams come true in blue ______.

In 1961, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," Elvis Presley, released the song "Blue Hawaii." It was featured on the album of the same name that he released that same year, and it was also the feature song for the movie of the same name he starred in that same year. It was a big year for Hawaii.

From the town of Lincoln, ________, with a sawed off .410 on my lap ...

In 1982, Bruce Springsteen, who is very much from New Jersey and is famous for writing an unofficial American anthem, "Born in the USA," released his sixth album, which was titled "Nebraska." The first song on the album is also titled "Nebraska."

I'm countin' down to the day deservin', fittin' for a king, I'm waitin' for the time when I can get to _______ ...

In 1991, the East Coast rap group from Long Island, Public Enemy - made up of Chuck D, Keith Shocklee, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Khari Wynn, DJ Lord and Sammy Sam - released the song, "By the Time I Get to Arizona," on the album, "Apocalypse 91 ... The Enemy Strikes Black."

I got a gal I love in North and _____ ______, there ain't no difference in my love, not one iota.

"I Gotta Gal I Love (In North And South Dakota)" was released by Frank Sinatra in 1947 on the B-side of the single titled, "That's How Much I Love You." The B-side didn't peak on any charts while the A-side reached No. 10 at one point.

This will clearly never be my scene, why does every city start with 'C'? There's only one sure thing that I know, I've got to get out of ____!

In 2009, Electric Six released the song, "Escape From Ohio," on their sixth album. The band, from Royal Oak, Michigan, has been described as a mix between garage, disco, punk rock, new wave and metal, and has released 14 studio albums.

Down in ____, the guys and I dig a city called Salt Lake.

In 1965, The Beach Boys released their hit album, "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)," which included songs like "The Girl from New York City," "California Girls" and "Salt Lake City." The album peaked at No. 2 on the charts, just behind The Rolling Stones.

Feel I'm goin' back to _____________, something's telling me I must go home, and the lights all went out in _____________, the day I left her standing on her own.

The 1967 song "Massachusetts" (aka "The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts") is a song by the Bee Gees that appeared on their 1968 album, "Horizontal." The song became the first of the group's No.1 hits and became one of the best-selling songs of all time.

'Cause a ___________ girl don't change her ways just cause everybody knows her name

Proud Mississippian Faith Hill released the song, "Mississippi Girl," in 2005 on her album, "Fireflies." The song went on to nab a Grammy nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance but lost to the Emmylou Harris song, "The Connection."

We're still rockin' in _________, we're all right.

The original version of "In the Street" was released by Big Star in 1972, and although it received critical acclaim, it was poorly distributed. In the late' 90s, Cheap Trick recorded the song with additional lyrics for the sitcom, "That 70s Show."

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong, ______ ________, mountain mamma, take me home, country roads.

Music legend John Denver released more than 300 songs before dying in a plane crash in California. One of his most successful songs was "Take Me Home, Country Roads," which was released on the album, "Poems, Prayers & Promises" in 1971. The song is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Beyond that wild blue yonder, when I get lost in the noise like a whisper, I hear the voice of the boy, ohhhh from ________.

Country singer Brett Eldredge, who is from Illinois, released his second album in 2015, which is titled "Illinois." The track of the same name is featured on album, which garnered critical acclaim upon its release.

I wanna see the mountains in your eyes, woah, woah, I had all of this life I can handle, meet me underneath that big _______ sky

"Meet Me in Montana" is a song by Marie Osmond and Dan Seals released in 1985. The song was the first song for Seals to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and the second for Osmond. It also won a Country Music Association Award for Vocal Duo of the Year.

Mary Queen of ________, your white skin is deceivin' ... You wake and wait to lie in bait and you almost got me believin' ...​

"Mary Queen Of Arkansas" is a 1973 rock song released by Bruce Springsteen on his debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." Thirty years later, the album was listed as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

For some strange reason it had to be, it was all a dream about _________.

In 1992, Atlanta-based hip-hop group Arrested Development released the song, "Tennessee," on their debut album "3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of..." The group was founded as an alternative to gangsta rap and the song earned them an MTV VMA nomination for Best New Artist. They lost to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

I'd sing from Hannah down to Charlestowne, getting all the people to sing along to what I call, _____ ________ low country, southern words with an old Sandlapper tune.

Native South Carolinian and country/gospel singer Josh Turner released the song, "South Carolina Low Country," on his third studio album "Everything Is Fine." The album was released in October 2007.

Out on bail, fresh out of jail, __________ dreamin' ...

Tupac Shakur released the song, "California Love," on his 1996 album, "All Eyez on Me." The song featured Dr. Dre, who got inspiration for the video by seeing a bunch of people living in the desert as he traveled through Nevada. He didn't know it at the time, but what he saw was the Burning Man festival.

I said blue moon of ________, keep on a-shinin', shine on the one that's gone and left me blue.

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" is a waltz song written by Bill Monroe and recorded and released by his band, Blue Grass Boys. Country Music Television named it one of the 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music and it is the official bluegrass song of Kentucky. In 2002, the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry.

Like damn, I'm from _________, land of the cold air, too many mosquitoes and our fair share of egos.

Hip-hop duo Atmosphere (consisting of rapper Slug and DJ/producer Ant) was formed in 1996 and has released nine studio albums since. In 2003, they released the song, "Say Shh," which is an ode to Minnesota - the state where the group is from.

Oh, people on the outside lookin' through, she'll shake you to _____, that's what she'll do.

Train released their self-titled album in 1998, containing the song, "Idaho." The group, which is from San Francisco, self-produced the debut album for just $25,000. By 2000, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

In my mind,​ I'm going to ________. Can't you see the sunshine, can't you just feel the moonshine?

Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist James Taylor burst on to the music scene with his eponymous debut album. The No.1 single from the album, which was released in 1968, was "Carolina In My Mind."

Playin' for a week in _____ ______, a man came to the stage one night, he smoked a big cigar, drove a Cadillac car.

The debut studio album from Boston-based rock band, Boston, was titled "Boston" and released in 1976. On side two of the eight-track album is the song, "Rock & Roll Band," in which the band dreams about making it big one day.

______ _________ got it right, live free or die, don't sit on us and tell us how to run our lives.

In the song, "Who's Taking Care of Number One," Hank Williams Jr. - the son of country singer Hank Williams - lets out his frustrations on Washington D.C., and federal policies involving taxes, federal aid, foreign relations and more.

And the ________Rocky Mountain high, I've seen it raining fire in the sky.

Legendary folk-rock singer John Denver (real name: Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.) released the song, "Rocky Mountain High," on the album of the same name in 1972. It was one of his most successful songs, and the Rockies are also the resting place of his ashes.

It don't matter now, love's always on time, meet me underneath the ________ sky.

Country music star Miranda Lambert released "Oklahoma Sky" on her album, "Four the Record," which was her fourth studio album. The album was released in 2011 to wide acclaim and went on to sell more than 1 million copies.

But Portland, ________, I don't know where that is, I don't want to know, I don't want to know.

Singer Tim McGraw - who has dabbled in country pop, pop rock and country music - released "Portland, Maine" on his 13th studio album, "Sundown Heaven Town," which was released in 2014. The album wasn't released until September, but pre-orders begans in July of that year.

Yeah, deep down in _______, well, well that's the place I long to be, well, oh deep down in _______, well that's the place I long to be.

Muddy Waters was born in Mississippi and is considered by many the "Father of Modern Chicago Blues." He's a musical legend. In 1977, he released his 12th studio album, "Hard Again," which featured the song, "Deep Down in Florida."

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today, I want to be a part of it, ___ ____, ___ ____

"New York, New York" was originally performed by Liza Minnelli in 1977 for Martin Scorsese's film of the same name. In 1979, Frank Sinatra re-recorded the song for his 1980 album, "Trilogy: Past Present Future," and although it was written for Minnelli, it has since become known as a Sinatra song. It's one of, if not, the most famous songs about New York City.

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About This Quiz

California, Texas and New York are three of the four most populous states in America and its not surprising that these are the states that are most mentioned in song lyrics. There's no study tallying how many times each state has been mentioned in the history of music but unofficial records have at least 1,000 mentions of each of those three states. It's difficult to listen to music for more than a few minutes without hearing a reference to California, let alone one of the 50 U.S. states. Furthermore, there are a number of bands that have named themselves after a U.S. city or state.

Some of the most popular songs that mention state names are "California Girls" by David Lee Roth, "California Gurls" by Katy Perry, "California Girls" by The Beach Boys and, of course, anybody else who decided to make a song titled "California Girls." The band named Boston recorded a few songs about Boston. Alabama loved their home state of Alabama. The band Arizona is really from New Jersey/ Bruce Springsteen - also from New Jersey - released an album titled "Nebraska." The band Alaska is from California, Brazil is from Indiana, Texas is from Scotland, America (Yes, there's a band named America) is from London, and the band Spain is from, you guessed it, California.

If you were able to follow all of that, this quiz will be a breeze. We'll give you a lyric, you fill in the state. It's simple enough. Now it's time to put your skills to the test.

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