26 great songs about Pennsylvania, from Harrisburg to Allentown to Ohiopyle (2023)

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Harrisburg,' by Josh Ritter

PennLive entertainment reporter J.C. Lee talked to Ritter last week about 'Harrisburg,'and it turns out it's really OUR Harrisburg. Ritter's dad was from Allentown, and Ritter saidhe remembers, as a child, driving past the Capitol dome. It was an image that stayed with him. Ritter is playing a show in Hershey next month.

Incidentally, Ritter grew up in Moscow, Idaho. There are several theories on how Moscow got its name, but the postmaster from Moscow, Pa., which is 10 miles south of Scranton, moved to Idaho and is the one who filed the paperwork for the town's naming. (Here's more on how several Pennsylvania towns got their names: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Allentown,' by Billy Joel

Speaking of Allentown, we can't forget the Billy Joel tune about the struggles of blue-collar industrial hubs trying to find their identities in a changing economy.

"Well we're waiting here in Allentown
For the Pennsylvania we never found
For the promises our teachers gave
If we worked hard
If we behaved
So the graduations hang on the wall
But they never really helped us at all
No they never taught us what was real
Iron and coal
And chromium steel
And we're waiting here in Allentown"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Philadelphia Freedom,' by Elton John

And speaking of entertainers who will be playing in Hershey soon, here's Elton John! John will play the Giant Center on Friday. Check out this video of him performing "Philadelphia Freedom" live on Soul Train in 1975.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'The Pennsylvania Polka'

What's more Pennsylvania than the Pennsylvania polka, right?

"Strike up the music the band has begun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
It started in Scranton, it's now No 1
It's bound to entertain you
Everybody has a mania
To do the polka from Pennsylvania."

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'30,000 pounds of Bananas,' by Harry Chapin

Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin was headed through Scranton when he got stuck in snarled traffic caused by a banana truck crash going down Moosic Street hill (Route 307) into the city. It's steep, and if you don't brake, you pick up a lot of speed in a sedan going down that slope, let alone in a banana truck. There's no longer truck traffic allowed on the hill, by the way. Chapin wrote a song about the driver, who did his best in the face of incredible danger to keep civilians from getting killed. It's a moving song, and here's some more history on the crash.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Pennsylvania,' by Cabinet

Keeping the bluegrass theme is an offering from Northeast Pennsylvania band Cabinet, which has been making the rounds of the festival circuit with its brand of "Pennsylvania bluegrass" -- including their own festival each may in Scranton, the Susquehanna Breakdown.The lyrics will tell you why it's on our list:

"When we left our road to take a ride
Out West, across the country side
We started out at seven in the morning.
There was a man named Blair, and be our guide
And took us for a cable ride
And fields the road and flowing with sweet corn.
And we made our way and raised our ...
But we made it there and tried to settle down
When parked the van to our surprise...
I knew that we would have to go to town.

We spent some time in Pennsylvania
Doing things we never done before
And I can still feel that warm wind blow
Pennsylvania hold me strong, never let me go!"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,' by Guy Mitchell

This one ranks highest on our list simply because of its title. And who doesn't love a little Guy Mitchell tune? It's catchy. Take a listen for yourself as he sings about pawn shops and forlorn lovers:

"And I walk up and down 'neath the clock

(By the pawnshop on a corner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
But I ain't got a thing left to hock

She was peaches, she was honey
And she cost me all my money
'Cause a whirl 'round the town was her dream
(Was her dream)

Took her dancin', took her dinin'
Till her blue eyes were shinin'
With the sights that they never had seen
(Never seen)"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Streets of Philadelphia,' by Bruce Springsteen

Here's a more complete list of Springsteen songs that mention Pennsylvania.

This one was written for the 1993 film "Philadelphia."

"I was bruised and battered, I couldn't tell what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
I saw my reflection in a window, I didn't know my own face
Oh brother are you gonna leave me wastin' away
On the Streets of Philadelphia"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'I-76,' by G-Love and Special Sauce

This song is a whole lot of Philadelphia and a whole lot of funk. It's got Fishtown, Rocky, Daryl Dawkins, Moses Malone, Dr J and plenty more.

"'Cause if you've gotta get downtown real quick
Then the only way to go is I-76
Unless of course you want to take that scenic view
Then East or West River Drive is right for you "

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Clampdown,' by The Clash

Joe Strummer has said that 1979's"nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island got me started" on writing "Clampdown."

"In these days of evil Presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong! (working for the clampdown)
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong! (working for the clampdown)

"Yeah I'm working in Harrisburg
Working hard in Petersburg (working for the clampdown, working for the clampdown)
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!
Beggin' to be melted down

And I'll give away no secrets"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Pennsylvania Guys,' a parody by Sloppy Secondz

This was Pennsylvania's answer to Katy Perry's "California Girls."

Is it an accurate portrayal of our fair state? That's up to you! But it's worth a chuckle or two.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Step,' by Vampire Weekend

OK, this is admittedly a bit of a stretch, but we dig that the song mentions Mechanicsburg among a lot of other spots around the world in this tale about love, loss and growth.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Philly, Philly,' by Eve

WARNING/ADVISORY/EDITOR'S NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT AND EXPLICIT LYRICS. That's why you won't find the video here.

Eve featuring Beenie Siegal still makes the list because it's basically about Eve's roots in Philadelphia. "We from P-H-I-L-A period, PA period, Eve they hearing it."

And the chorus?

"Philly, Philly,
Philly where I am from
Philly, Philly
Philly where I am from
Philly, Philly
Philly where I am from
Philly, Philly
Philly where I am from"

But again, explicit lyrics, so use your best judgment.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Motownphilly,' by Boyz II Men

Boyz II Men. ABC. BBD. The East Coast family!

"Never skipped a beat, nah.
While cooling on South street
Jet black Benz, plenty of friends
And all the Philly steaks you can eat"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'South Street,' by The Orlons

This was The Orlons' third and last Top 10 hit, in 1963.

Tell me you don't sing this as you drive through Philadelphia!

"Where do all the hippist meet? (South Street, South Street)
Where the dancin is elite (South Street, South Street)
Side by side we're loose and neat
When we're stompin down the street
Hurry down, baby she's the hippist street in town!(Oh baby)

Meet me, on South Street, oh yeah, hurry on down
Come on now, meet me on South Street
The hippist street in town
Well you take West Street, East Street, North Avenue
(Cause I know) South Street's the best street
To have a ball with you?"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Lazy Scranton,' from 'The Office'

This is a spoof of Natalie Portman's "Lazy Sunday" skit from SNL. "The Office" appropriated it create a Michael Scott/Dwight Schrute joint production HR video featuring the Electric City (and Lackawanna County).

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Camptown Races,' by Stephen Foster

Foster's "Camptown Races" is based on Camptown, Pa. Here's Johnny Cash's rendition of the song, which was first published in 1850 (way before the Man in Black's time).

"Well, the Camptown ladies sing this song doodah doodah
Ah the Camptown race track's five miles long oh doo-dah day
Goin' to run all night, goin' to run all day
I'll bet my money on the bobtail nag, somebody bet on the bay"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

Anything by the Menzingers

The Menzingers are a Philly punk rock band that first formed in the wake of Scranton's ska-punk movement. You can't listen to their music without tripping over Pennsylvania references.

There's the desolate "Freedom Bridge" about the turnpike bridge over Route 611 in Clarks Summit, "Coal City Blues" about Scranton, "Ave Maria" mentioning the Electric City, and on and on. They aren't the most uplifting songs about Pennsylvania, but they offer a unique vantagepoint.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Home Now,' by Cabinet

Nevermind that you haven't been able to take passenger service out of Scranton in more than a few generations. It's still Steamtown, and for the boys of Cabinet, it's still home.

"Pick me up around 5 o'clock
at that Steamtown train stop
because I'm home.
Yeah, I'm home."

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

"Pennsylvania," by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner

This one is our state song. Official.

Written and composed byEddie KhouryandRonnie Bonner, it was adopted by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Robert P. Casey on November 29, 1990.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' theme song by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

He might have been sent to become the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (in the sitcom), but we know where Will Smith's roots run deep.

"In West Philadelphia, born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool
Shooting some b-ball outside of the school."

Here's the original, full version of the song.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

'Bristol Stomp,' by The Dovells

The Dovells were a group from Philadelphia, and "Bristol Stomp" was written in 1961.

"The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol
When they do the Bristol Stomp
Really somethin when they join in jumpin
When they do the Bristol Stomp
Whoa, whoa they start spinnin every Friday night
They dance the greatest and they do it right
Well, it's the latest it's the greatest sight to see
The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol
(Whoa, oh, oh)"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.coma

'Pennsylvania,' by Mountain Ride

Here's an offering from a local bluegrass band -- southcentral Pennsylvania'sMountain Ride.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.coma

'Fall in Philadelphia,' by Hall & Oates

Perfect song for this week, right? Since it's turning fall in Philadelphia.

OK, so it's not really a HOPEFUL song. But it's Philly.

"I've got to move myself out to the country
I'm lookin' out for any place at all
I'm gonna spend another Fall In Philadelphia

A roving band of youths beat up on Johnny
Everybody's gettin' richer sellin' that dope
Say, the stolen bikes are gathering by the thousands
Along with seven million people without a hope

I guess I have to face the fact as real
I think I feel my back up against the wall
I'm gonna spend another Fall In Philadelphia"

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.coma

'Punk Rock Girl,' by the Dead Milkmen

This fits in with a few other stretches on the list, but the date with the Punk Rock Girl happened at the Philly Pizza Co.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.coma

'New Sensations' by Lou Reed

The Delaware Water Gap (the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border in the Poconos) features into this one.

"I rode to Pennsylvania near the Delaware Gap
sometimes I got lost and had to check the map
I stopped at a roadside diner for a burger and a coke"

Related but unrelated, check out travel writer Jim Cheney's 9 things to do in and around the Water Gap.

Stephanie Sadowski | ssadowski@pennlive.com

You know you're from Pennsylvania if ...

This isn't a full list; it's just a list of our favorites. What's yours?

Here's a closer look at songs about PA (the state, not the cities); songs about Pittsburgh; and Springsteen songs about Pennsylvania.

Check out these "You know you're from Pennsylvania if ... " stories:

45 signs you're a longtime Pennsylvanian

21 foods you'll find in a Pennsylvania grocery store

23 best foods created in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Dutch food challenge

26 great songs about Pennsylvania

How that Pennsylvania place got its name:Part 1,Part 2andPart 3

The Pennsylvania Bucket List

43 architectural marvels in Pennsylvania

Famous Pennsylvanians, county by county

Signs you're at a Pennsylvania wedding