State Songs is John Linnell's first and only full-length solo album, releas… Read Full Bio ↴State Songs is John Linnell's first and only full-length solo album, released in 1999. It features sixteen songs, most of which are named after (but not actually about) U.S. states. A special limited-edition vinyl of the album was released in 2019 for Record Store Day Black Friday, and a digital "Expanded Edition" followed in 2021.
Linnell: "I decided to start writing songs with the name of the states as a way of avoiding having to come up with song titles. I suddenly had fifty song titles and I could write fifty songs based on that. This is always one of my problems with writing lyrics is I'm just so lazy I don't want to have to think up all the words and what it means. ... It's just a way to create more music without having to get bogged down in verbal ideas."
Linnell: "One other reason I was interested in writing state anthems is because I like the style they usually employ in state anthems. Sort of archaic and kind of square."
Linnell: "I decided to start writing songs with the name of the states as a way of avoiding having to come up with song titles. I suddenly had fifty song titles and I could write fifty songs based on that. This is always one of my problems with writing lyrics is I'm just so lazy I don't want to have to think up all the words and what it means. ... It's just a way to create more music without having to get bogged down in verbal ideas."
Linnell: "One other reason I was interested in writing state anthems is because I like the style they usually employ in state anthems. Sort of archaic and kind of square."
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State Songs
John Linnell Lyrics
Arkansas The designers of the Arkansas Were inspired to choose a form…
Idaho Night-long Vigil by the picture window. Sleepy Eyes never le…
Iowa Silhouette on the moon Flying around on a broom Iowa Is a wi…
Maine Relaxing on my hands and knees Relaxing on my face Reclining…
Michigan Oh Michigan, exemplar of unchecked replication Oh Michigan, …
Montana What are you staring at In that hospital bed? Let me explain…
Nevada When I was young, I met a man a long,…
New Hampshire Here I sit outside the window Longing to be asked inside Unt…
Oregon Oregon is bad Stop it if you can Here it comes Here it…
Pennsylvania La la la la La, la la la La la la la La…
South Carolina The other day my neighbor has a dented bike Second day…
The Songs of the 50 States The songs of the 50 states The songs of the 50…
Utah Reading the next resume Raising his eyes up from the page Sh…
West Virginia West Virginia Why don't you come outside with me? West Virgi…