The United States of Songs: Montana

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Hey there. Did you miss me? No, of course you didn't. Well, regardless, after a week off The United States of Songs is back, and this week we're headed to Big Sky Country. It's time to find a song that includes the name of the state and sings the virtues of Montana:


The state: Montana
The song: "Montana" by Dave Stamey (skip ahead to 1:05 to get right to the song)


 

I debated a good long while whether I could get away with Frank Zappa's "Montana", but in the end I decided his tune was a little too much about dental floss and not enough about the state, so Dave Stamey won out. You can't be too upset about a Dave Stamey tune, either. So let's talk Treasure State: Montana's HUGE: the fourth largest state by area, but it ranks 44th in population. It's a recipe for isolated, rural communities of ranchers, farmers, and miners. Of course it's not all hard work out there; Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Little Bighorn National Monument are all fantastic places to visit.

Or so I've heard. I've yet to make it out to Montana. It's not any indictment of the state, it's just been so far from everywhere I've lived previously. Now that I'm in Washington I'm hoping to make a road trip out that way, at least to take in Yellowstone. That said, I feel like this is the type of song I would expect to encounter in Montana. Its rural roots and number of ranches and farms give it a Country music kinda feel, and Stamey's recollection of growing up there is just the sort of story you'd expect to hear a local tell you in some dusty watering hole off the beaten trail or while you warm your bones by a fire in an old wooden ranch house.

"I want to go to there."

 

It's a good song, and it gets me in the Montana state of mind, which is too bad because winter's started and I'm pretty sure trying to pass the snowy mountains in a Honda Fit is only going to get me killed. Still, I hope you like your song, Montan...ians? Is that what they call you? Let me know. Next stop, Nebraska!

Runner Up: "Montaña" by Seth Condrey
Most Laughable Suggestion: Anything by Hannah Montana

Got a better suggestion for Montana? Want to get ahead of the game suggesting something for Nebraska? Sick of seeing these music posts every Friday? Let us know in the comments!


Flickr photo Montana by Phil Price used under a Creative Commons License.



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