Minutes before Gov. Josh Shapiro took the oath of office this week, the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus delivered a stirring rendition of Pennsylvania’s state song that caught even lifers off guard.
“Pennsylvania has a state song?!?! Lived here since the day I was born and did not know that,” @idealskeptic tweeted.
That sense of surprise was shared by plenty of others, while the song choice itself was both challenged and defended.
We’ve been here before, both on prior inauguration days and decades ago when the push to adopt a state song really hit its stride in Harrisburg, unleashing lots of strong feelings about what it should and shouldn’t be, and whether one was even needed.
Former state Rep. James Gallen (R., Berks) certainly thought it was, writing his own ditty to that effect: “Without a song, no way to celebrate,” he offered. “Without a song, Pa. is out of date.”
Pennsylvania's Historical and Museum Commission says suggestions included Billy Joel’s “Allentown” — a song Allentown itself learned to hate; “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John; “Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania” by Guy Mitchell; “Camptown Races” by Pittsburgh’s own Stephen Foster; and the venerable “Pennsylvania Polka.”
But Pennsylvania lawmakers went in a different direction and landed on an original composition with more copyright flexibility.
It’s called “Pennsylvania,” and it was written by Ronnie Bonner and Eddie Khoury and formally adopted by the state in 1990, beating out runners-up like "Pennsylvania - Gee! It's Great!" and several other tunes also named “Pennsylvania,” a word that rhymes with almost nothing.
Eddie Khoury, a retired administrator with the Philadelphia prison system, told the AP (paywall) in 1989: "When you throw 200 to 300 songs in the pot and yours comes out on top, you've got to have an element of luck."
"Pennsylvania" by Khoury and Bonner — a longtime Philadelphia-area songwriting team — was written decades earlier and recommended to the legislature by a committee of music educators and professionals.
For years, lawmakers had offered competing song options, most playing to their regional constituencies. State Rep. Merle Phillips (R., Northumberland) was among the lawmakers to vote against "Pennsylvania," saying at the time (paywall), "I had introduced a song ... that I thought was nicer."
State Rep. Gerard Kosinski (D., Philadelphia) added: "In my mind, the only state song is 'Pennsylvania Polka.'"
Still, the backers of "Pennsylvania" won out and this state became the 49th out of 50 to adopt an official jam, leaving only New Jersey without one.
A Spotlight PA colleague said this week that the winning “Pennsylvania” — a no-frills, two verse-two chorus anthem — sounds like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” and now I can’t unhear it. (You decide.)
But it’s got more college fight song to it and lots more references to vanquishing tyranny and proclaiming freedom.
A recurring criticism of the song is that it's slightly stodgy compared to some of the others nationwide: "Georgia on My Mind" in, you guessed it, Georgia, and Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma," to name a few. Some states even have official rock and folk songs.
"Pennsylvania" is neither. Here’s the hook. Everybody now.
“Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania,
May your future be,
filled with honor everlasting
as your history.”
But nothing says there can only be one state song. West Virginia has no fewer than four, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” among them.
The issue then maybe isn't whether Pennsylvania picked the right or wrong state song but rather why it didn't pick more of them. It's not too late.
If lawmakers are to ever consider giving “Pennsylvania” some company, they could pick a "state polka song," a "state rock song," a "state waltz," anything really. May I recommend another “Pennsylvania,” this one performed by South African singer-songwriter Matthew Mole.
What songs do you think should be in Pennsylvania’s official rotation? Let me know at the email address linked below.
—Colin Deppen, PA Local editor | 
