THIS IS AMERICA - Songs About American States

THIS IS AMERICA - Songs About American States
By Shelley Gollust

Broadcast: Monday, September 13, 2004

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Almost every state in America has an official song. However, songwriters have written many beautiful, un-official songs to describe the state they love best.

I'm Shirley Griffith.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. We play songs about American states on our report today on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

One of the most famous songs about an American state is from the broadway musical play "Oklahoma!" Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote it in nineteen-forty-three. The play is about farmers and cowboys¹ living in a territory² in the American west in the early nineteen-hundreds. At the end of the play, they celebrate when their territory becomes a state. Here, Nelson Eddy³ sings "Oklahoma."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

 
Rio Grand⁴, Texas
Texas is America's second largest state in land area. It is famous for oil wells, cattle⁵, and cowboys. Many people believe that everything is bigger, better, and brighter in Texas. Songwriters have written more songs about Texas than about any other state. Bob Wills sings one of them here. It is called "Deep In The Heart of Texas."

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Many people think America's southern states have a special beauty and history. And there are more songs about southern states than about states in any other part of the country. One of the most beautiful is about the state of Georgia. It is called "Georgia On My Mind." Hoagy Carmichael wrote it. Ray Charles made it famous.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

In the early nineteen-seventies, John Denver wrote and performed many popular songs. Two were about the states he liked best. Both have tall mountains. One state is West Virginia, which is actually in the eastern part of the country.

John Denver said West Virginia is so beautiful that it is "almost heaven." Here he sings "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

John Denver also loved the western state of Colorado, because of the Rocky⁶ Mountains there. He sings about a young man who discovers the mountains of Colorado. The experience changes his life. The song is called "Rocky Mountain High."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Many people love the states in the northeastern United⁷ States. This is the area called New England. These states are especially beautiful in autumn when the leaves on the trees change from green...to yellow...red...and orange. They also are beautiful in winter when the land is covered with snow.

Here Billie Holiday sings about the beauty of one New England state in the song, "Moonlight in Vermont":

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

 
Central Park, New York
Some people love the state of New York best. Of course, many people want to live in the nation's biggest and most exciting city, New York. Yet others love the rest of the state, too, better than any other place. Carmen McRae sings about this in the song, "New York State of Mind."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

We do not want to forget America's middle western states, even though there are not as many songs about them. There is one popular song about the middle western state of Indiana. It is called "Back Home Again In Indiana." Errol Garner⁸ plays it.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

This program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was produced and directed⁹ by Lawan Davis. I'm Shirley Griffith.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

1 cowboys   

n.牧牛工( cowboy的名词复数 )；牛仔；冒失鬼；（尤指无能的）缺德的商人

参考例句：

• children playing a game of cowboys and Indians 玩美国西部牛仔与印第安人游戏的孩子们
• There are too many cowboys in the business these days. 近来商界中，瞎吵胡闹的家伙太多。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 territory   

n.领土，领地，版图，地区，活动范围

参考例句：

• Resources in plenty can be found in this territory.这一地区能找到大量自然资源。
• Our country has a vast territory and abundant resources.我国土地辽阔，资源丰富。

3 eddy   

n.漩涡，涡流

参考例句：

• The motor car disappeared in eddy of dust.汽车在一片扬尘的涡流中不见了。
• In Taylor's picture,the eddy is the basic element of turbulence.在泰勒的描述里，旋涡是湍流的基本要素。

4 grand   

adj.豪华的，宏伟的，壮丽的，主要的，重大的；n.(美俚)一千美元

参考例句：

• The pianist played several pieces of music on a grand piano.钢琴家在一架大钢琴上弹了几首乐曲。
• Come on,I'll give you the grand tour of the backyard.跟我来，我带你去后院来一次盛大的旅游。

5 cattle   

n.牛，牲口，畜生

参考例句：

• He has twenty head of cattle on the farm.他在农场养了20头牛。
• On big farms cattle are usually stamped with brands.在大农场，牲畜通常是打烙印的。

6 rocky   

adj.岩石的，像岩石的；多岩石的

参考例句：

• She drives carefully up the rocky lane.她驾车小心地从这条很多石头的小路上驶过去。
• There is only one port along this rocky coast.这个多岩石的海岸只有一个港口。

7 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

8 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

9 directed   

adj.有指导的；有管理的；定向的；被控制的v.（用建议、指示、有益的情报等）指导( direct的过去式和过去分词 )；导演（戏剧或电影）；指示方向；把…对准（某方向或某人）

参考例句：

• The firemen directed jets of water at the burning building. 消防队员把水柱喷向燃烧着的楼房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The general directed that the prisoners should be set free. 将军命令释放囚犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》