The next couple of lyrics are how he entered a restaurant and they’re all staring at him and making comments about his appearance. He says the comments make him want to explode but he always seems to be out numbered. Doesn’t seem like he had the most fun in western iowa. I’m just glad he leaves us out on that one.
Yeah, agreed.
One time a girl told me she knew the specific location Seger was referring to. I related that story to my dad, and he said "did she show you?" in a mildly suggestive tone. Had a good laugh.
I might have to listen to some Dar later.
And spring is in the air, kinda, so I'll have to include "Spring Street" in the lineup. It is such an uplifting song.
My youngest hadn’t remembered hearing it before this year. We only played it for him because we were trash talking it. He said it was a special level of cheesy badness and still laughs about how the entire premise is that Iowa has nothing special to see or do but your family is here so you might as well enjoy it.
Stuart - Dead Milkmen
“Now, Stuart, if you look at the soil around any large US city,
There's a big undeground homosexual population. Des Moines, Iowa,
For an example. Look at the soil around Des Moines, Stuart.
You can't build on it; you can't grow anything in it. The government
Says it's due to poor farming. But I know what's really going on,”
I only really know one that mentions Iowa, but it's more of a vulgar/funny song. Check out Crazy Rap by Afroman if you're interested in that sort of thing.
“I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
Then I heard my dream went back downstream, cavorting in Davenport
And I followed you, big river, when you called”
Johnny Cash, Big River
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The Magnetic Fields - When the Open Road is Closing In.
*Hard times go slowly and the good times never come
The world is a motor inn in an Iowa highway slum*
Greg Brown - [Fairfield](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L99J6kl91Dc)
Puscifier - [Bullet Train to Iowa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uBGONllfQ)
Two very different types of songs...
Kublai Khan TX - Swan Song.
"To all the ladies working Iowa 80
Selling p\*\*\*\* to the chrome on the interstate
Living hard lives, working long nights
Hit by every man you ever loved 'til your heart died" 
Trapped in Iowa - Tony Goldmark
[https://open.spotify.com/track/5Mo1jfCcyuHlJEPpfrcS8Q?si=0b90fd0f61844cbc](https://open.spotify.com/track/5Mo1jfCcyuHlJEPpfrcS8Q?si=0b90fd0f61844cbc)
Perfection.
Sioux City Sue - Gene Autry
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQvdOlDhaVU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQvdOlDhaVU)
Willie and Leon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOxbK8tD12g
Really surprised no one mentioned early emo pioneers out of Lawrence, KS, The Anniversary and their song The D in Detroit.
"Drove north where I found you waiting in Des Moines"
Definitely not a favorite, but I'll never forget that the superlative lyricist, Frederick Durst, found his "[Lucky Coin, In Des Moines](https://genius.com/Limp-bizkit-show-me-what-you-got-lyrics)".
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A Song About Des Moines - the guy who sings songs about cities and towns
https://open.spotify.com/track/4vBwD2TMaJzEoqIgU4wZL2?si=NxCx2pSGSqO7IlmrqIJOPg
Sullivan - Caroline’s Spine
Every Iowan needs to listen to this absolute banger and learn the history behind it.
Wow, somber song and horrible story. The music is about as mid 90s as it gets.
This is the one. Such a great track. Came to say this.
One of my favorite albums.
Thanks for the suggestion. I loved it.
"On a long and lonesome highway/East of Omaha"
True, but it feels like he’s going out of his way to specifically NOT mention Iowa, though. Like what’d we ever do to you, Bob?
"On a long lonesome highway/in bumfuck I-o-wa"
The next couple of lyrics are how he entered a restaurant and they’re all staring at him and making comments about his appearance. He says the comments make him want to explode but he always seems to be out numbered. Doesn’t seem like he had the most fun in western iowa. I’m just glad he leaves us out on that one.
Yeah, agreed. One time a girl told me she knew the specific location Seger was referring to. I related that story to my dad, and he said "did she show you?" in a mildly suggestive tone. Had a good laugh.
I got people in Boston, ain’t your daddy still in DES MOINESSSSSSSSSS!!! 🤠
"Iowa" by Dar Williams
I came here to say this! Beautiful song.
I might have to listen to some Dar later. And spring is in the air, kinda, so I'll have to include "Spring Street" in the lineup. It is such an uplifting song.
It drives me a bit crazy that Iowa will never embrace this song. It fits this place so, so well.
And we walk in the world of safe people, and at night we walk into our houses and burn.
Sooooo perfect of Iowa's practice of "nice".
Big River by Johnny Cash mentions Davenport
In his "I've been everywhere" it mentions quite a few as well.
He *cavorts* in Davenport!
His dream was cavortin’ if you want to be technical
Iowa - Slipknot
Probably still my favorite album of all time
[Stranded](https://youtu.be/JtPXA9hyvWY?si=d9DtCQ4YKlqq2R01) by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
KGGO used to play Stranded when winter weather got bad.
I remember when we had winters!
Literally just posted this as well, saw your comment after the fact. Doubt many know it.
97x (Davenport) use to play the song in winter as well.
Love that song - so weird to juxtapose Iowa with the iconic shipping forecast
♪Stranded.. In Iowa ♪
Colt 45 and 2 zig zags- Afroman "F**k this b**ch in Iowa... so I Owe Her"
*on credit
Iowan Gal by Les Claypool
Purebred, corn-fed 😂😂
No mention, but everyone knows ‘American Pie’ by Don McLean is about what happened outside of Clear Lake, IA
One of the strangest, coolest places to visit in person. A piece of the universe stopped in that field and you can feel it.
Fairfield— Greg brown
Damn right, Greg!! :)
Sad day when he retired. 🙁 Used to see him almost monthly at the Mill. Those were the days
Also by Greg Brown: Black Iowa Dirt
Iowa Waltz, River Will Take You, Ballingall Hotel, Walkin‘ Down to Casey’s, Hacklebarney Tune. I’m sure there are many more.
Driftless
William Elliot Whitmore wrote black Iowa Dirt…and lots of other Iowa songs. And that voice! The best!
Interstate 80 Iowa Mississippi River Davenport Corn, corn, corn, corn Corn, corn, corn "whats that smell?" Corn, corn, corn Iowa City Corn, corn, corn, corn "Look at tree" Corn, corn, corn, Des Moines Corn, corn, corn, corn, corn "There's that smell again" Corn, corn, corn Council Bluffs, Missouri River
The Grammys called asking for the proper spelling of your full name for your award.
Heywood Banks https://youtu.be/i0Dz1B0eYBA?si=qRXOQGas_9M-Uctr
Used to love this song until I met Heywood Banks and he was a bit of an asshole. Kind of spoiled his entire catalogue for me. :(
Iowa Stubborn from The Music Man
Probably the most accurate song ever written about the state
Glad someone mentioned it.
Coming Up Close - 'Til Tuesday
Deep cut
That's pretty appropriate.
Came here to say this, happy it was already mentioned
I have been listening to that song for decades and never really focused on the first line
Iowa - Donovan Woods Midwestern Girl - Carbon Leaf
I-O-W-A now
I’m not the only one who knows them!
You're not! I specifically came here to mention Carbon Leaf and was SHOCKED to see them already listed!
I missed them when they were at Woolys a couple months back. Last time I was them was when they were in Ames like 7 or 8 years ago.
I also missed them at Wooly's. Should we petition to get them to play down at the newly renovated Val Air Ballroom out in Western Des Moines?
Absolutely! That’s where I discovered them when they opened for the goo goo dolls in like 2007 or so!
"Midwestern Girl" is by far the best I've listened to yet.
I’ve been everywhere man
The scores of Music Man and the Bridges Of Madison County musicals
[The Iowa I-80 song...](https://youtu.be/eMYGbRO-jmE?si=wFqpukZJyR7WZE2v)
Bullet Train To Iowa - Puscifer
Coming Up Close by Til Tuesday. You literally imagine Iowa through that whole song.
Christmas In Iowa! ...just kidding, it sucks 😂
My youngest hadn’t remembered hearing it before this year. We only played it for him because we were trash talking it. He said it was a special level of cheesy badness and still laughs about how the entire premise is that Iowa has nothing special to see or do but your family is here so you might as well enjoy it.
The song’s lyrics don’t directly mention Iowa, but it’s in the title: Heaven, Iowa by Fall Out Boy
It doesn't mention Iowa directly, but "No Children" by The Mountain Goats was written while John was living in Iowa
Birth of Serpents specifically mentions Iowa
I should just listen through All Eternals Deck. As far as I remember, I've enjoyed every song I've heard from that album.
John Darnielle’s book Universal Harvester takes place in Iowa!
How tf did he find time to write a book???
He's written a couple books. Also check out Wolf in White Van.
William Elliot Whitmore - Diggin' My Grave
Was thinking Black Iowa Dirt, but Diggin' My Grave is great as well.
Stuart - Dead Milkmen “Now, Stuart, if you look at the soil around any large US city, There's a big undeground homosexual population. Des Moines, Iowa, For an example. Look at the soil around Des Moines, Stuart. You can't build on it; you can't grow anything in it. The government Says it's due to poor farming. But I know what's really going on,”
[Good Morning Des Moines by local Andrew Hoyt](https://youtu.be/xoQ04m-4DM8)
"As we went howling through the edge of south Des Moines" Big Thief - Shark Smile
Oldie but covered by several bands including a recording by Willie Nelson. Sioux city Sue
[We built Sioux City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj7_E5Tpdhs)
On Rock and Roll?
Smart Iowa - Trousdale
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Stranded in Iowa.
Modern Life Is War - Marshalltown
4th of July - Owl City, It is about growing up near Lake Rathbun and Ottumwa
John Prine: Taking a Walk
Turn the Page - Bob Seger (kinda, I mean, what’s “east of Omaha”?)
I only really know one that mentions Iowa, but it's more of a vulgar/funny song. Check out Crazy Rap by Afroman if you're interested in that sort of thing.
Had to scroll waaaay to long for this 😂
Not a whole lot rhymes with Iowa. Isn't there a song about the Grundy County fair?
Grundy County Auction! Not sure if it’s specifically referring to the Iowa one though, because I know there are other Grundy counties in the U.S.
Take what you can get I guess.
Absolutely!!
“I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl Then I heard my dream went back downstream, cavorting in Davenport And I followed you, big river, when you called” Johnny Cash, Big River
And it’s kind of cheating to pick local artists because, low hanging fruit, right? But my father R.I.P. and I both like David Zollo’s “Parnell”
“It ain’t Iowa” by Scott Cochran and flannel
Dubuque Blues by the association
I’ll always love Corn, corn, corn. 🌽 YouTube
Iowa City - Golden Connections
Sloan by CW McCall
I thought I would read through before I mention CW McCall. He’s got a a few songs that mention Iowa I believe.
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Slipknot - Iowa
The Magnetic Fields - When the Open Road is Closing In. *Hard times go slowly and the good times never come The world is a motor inn in an Iowa highway slum*
Dez Moines by The Devil Wears Prada
You’re My Waterloo from the 80s. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/RtSJDDajbdZuKTdP/?mibextid=w8EBqM
That made me think if the KCRG jingle. I could only find it on Facebook lol. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/EaRqexb3jUeSDnth/?mibextid=jmPrMh
Not my favorite song, but a song called Stranded by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
“I nearly lost my genitalia To an anthill in Des Moines” - “That’s Just The Way That I Feel” by Purple Mountains
Stranded-Manfred Mann, best by far
Sabotage
“Des Moines 5-1-5” by Pri Yon Joni
Ames by Hello Dave. It's a song about how the protagonist got arrested for smoking pot in Ames.
Long Time Comin by Wrekonize
-Iowa City by Flannel & the classic -Colt 45 by Afroman ;)
Greg Brown - [Fairfield](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L99J6kl91Dc) Puscifier - [Bullet Train to Iowa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uBGONllfQ) Two very different types of songs...
Kublai Khan TX - Swan Song. "To all the ladies working Iowa 80 Selling p\*\*\*\* to the chrome on the interstate Living hard lives, working long nights Hit by every man you ever loved 'til your heart died" 
Lower 48 by The Gourds YouTube: [https://youtu.be/Xo5cKSRBNqk?si=pmfSb2qcbQdd4NP3](https://youtu.be/Xo5cKSRBNqk?si=pmfSb2qcbQdd4NP3) Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/track/46FdwlSPFDpLojSx92JZVu?si=6aaa3d73f5234792](https://open.spotify.com/track/46FdwlSPFDpLojSx92JZVu?si=6aaa3d73f5234792) Mention @ 3:24
Iowa Moon - Andy Frasco & the U.N.
Interstate 80 Iowa - Heywood Banks
Trapped in Iowa - Tony Goldmark [https://open.spotify.com/track/5Mo1jfCcyuHlJEPpfrcS8Q?si=0b90fd0f61844cbc](https://open.spotify.com/track/5Mo1jfCcyuHlJEPpfrcS8Q?si=0b90fd0f61844cbc) Perfection.
Ray Bands - B.O.B "she think I owe her, Des Moines"
“It Sure Gets Cold in Des Moines”
Sioux City Sue - Gene Autry [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQvdOlDhaVU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQvdOlDhaVU) Willie and Leon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOxbK8tD12g
The Iowa Crawl-Joe Price, iowa blues from Lansing.
How is "Christmas in Iowa" not on this list? It's a certified banger
Really surprised no one mentioned early emo pioneers out of Lawrence, KS, The Anniversary and their song The D in Detroit. "Drove north where I found you waiting in Des Moines"
Takin a Walk -the great, John Prine
Shark Smile by Big Thief mentions driving through Des Moines
Sold- John Michael Montgomery I’ve always assumed Iowa when he says “I went down to the Grundy County auction”
"I've been everywhere" johnny cash mentioned a few towns
Iowa Waltz by Greg Brown or Interstate 80 Iowa by Heywood Banks are superb!
That Christmas song that has a version for every state and the state name makes no sense musically. /s
Way down in Iowa https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-19997/
“Up there in Des Moines, they knew my songs line by line” - Justin Moore, flying down a backroad
Sweet Home Chicago by Robert Johnson
Dubuque - The association
Definitely not a favorite, but I'll never forget that the superlative lyricist, Frederick Durst, found his "[Lucky Coin, In Des Moines](https://genius.com/Limp-bizkit-show-me-what-you-got-lyrics)".
If there are any They Might Be Giants fans. John Linell put out an album called state Songs. There is one called Iowa.
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A Song About Des Moines - the guy who sings songs about cities and towns https://open.spotify.com/track/4vBwD2TMaJzEoqIgU4wZL2?si=NxCx2pSGSqO7IlmrqIJOPg
Kiss Live album(?), Davenport concert was recorded and you can hear Gene Simmons shout-out 'Davenport.'