Massachusetts State Folk Song

"Massachusetts"

Words and music by Arlo Guthrie

Adopted in 1981.

"Massachusetts," words and music by Arlo Guthrie, was designated by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 2, § 20. and was adopted by the Legislature in July, 1981. 

Massachusetts State Folk Song: "Massachusetts"

"Massachusetts"

Like a dream in the night
As the snow settles white
There's a fire burning bright
In Massachusetts
And there's a house upon a hill
That keeps us from the chill
And by the grace of God
We will be in Massachusetts

CHORUS:

You can tell me about the times you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains,
Please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same
The sun comes up to meet the dawn
And there's a day that must go on
There's another night that's gone
In Massachusetts
And I could spend all of my days
And remain each day amazed
At the way each day is phrased
In Massachusetts

CHORUS

Now if you could only see
I know you would agree
There ain't nowhere else to be
Like Massachusetts
And there's a house upon a hill
That keeps us from the chill
And by the grace of God
We will be in Massachusetts
Come on tell me about the time you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains
And please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same as Massachusetts

Origin of Song: "Massachusetts"

Massachusetts Law

General Laws of Massachusetts, Part 1, Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 20.

PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE I. JURISDICTION AND EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, THE GENERAL COURT, STATUTES AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
CHAPTER 2. ARMS, GREAT SEAL AND OTHER EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
SECTION 20

Section 20. Folk song of commonwealth. The song "Massachusetts", words and music by Arlo Guthrie, shall be the folk song of the commonwealth.