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What Is the State Song of Iowa?

Lisa Bigelow
By
Updated May 17, 2024
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Iowa, the Hawkeye State, officially adopted the state song of Iowa in 1911, making The Song of Iowa a state symbol. In 1897, Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers wrote the lyrics, based on the traditional German folk song, O, Tannenbaum.

The first stanza of the state song refers to the Midwestern state as the fairest of all and a poet’s dream. It continues by mentioning the cornfields, shining prairies, and sunsets, calling the state a paradise. The song ends by encouraging residents to learn the state’s history and remember its patriotic sons who died in battle.

Is there another Iowa state song?

Residents unofficially adopted another state song of Iowa that might be more popular and better known than The Song of Iowa. The Corn Song employs a rousing chorus proclaiming, “That’s where the tall corn grows,” usually sung with hands held high.

The Corn Song appears less serious than The Song of Iowa and refers to the state as I-O-Way. Many lines end with, “Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho.” Iowans typically enjoy the energetic feel of this song about the state’s main crop.

The Corn Song was written by George Hamilton in 1912. He was a community leader in the Chamber of Commerce and Masonic Lodge. After Hamilton traveled to California for a Shriners' convention, he apparently saw the need for a state song of Iowa suitable for a marching band. He collaborated with band leader John T. Beeston to write the song to the tune of Traveling.

What are the lyrics to The Corn Song?


    Let's sing of Grand old I-O-Way,
    Yo-Ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
    Our love is strong-er ev-'ry day,
    Yo-Ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
    So come a-long and join the throng,
    Sev-'ral hun-dred thou-sand strong
    As you come just sing this song,
    Yo-Ho, yo-ho, yo-ho

    We're from I-O-way, I-O-way.
    State of all the land,
    Joy on ev-'ry hand.
    We're from I-O-way, I-O-way.
    That's where the tall corn grows

    Our land is full of ripe-ning corn,
    Yo-Ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
    We've watched it grow both night and morn,
    Yo-Ho, yo-ho, yo-ho
    But now we rest, we've stood the test.
    All that's good we have the best
    I-O-way has reached the crest,
    Yo-Ho, yo-ho, yo-ho

    We're from I-O-way, I-O-way.
    State of all the land,
    Joy on ev-'ry hand.
    We're from I-O-way, I-O-way.
    That's where the tall corn grows

    We're from I-O-way, I-O-way.
    State of all the land,
    Joy on ev-'ry hand.
    We're from I-O-way, I-O-way.
    That's where the tall corn grows

What are the lyrics to The Song of Iowa, the official state song?


    You ask what land I love the best, Iowa, tis Iowa,
    The fairest State of all the west, Iowa, O! Iowa.
    From yonder Mississippi's stream
    To where Missouri's waters gleam
    O! fair it is as poet's dream, Iowa, in Iowa.

    See yonders fields of tasseled corn, Iowa in Iowa,
    Where plenty fills her golden horn, Iowa in Iowa.
    See how her wonderous prairies shine
    To yonder sunset's purpling line,
    O! happy land, O! land of mine, Iowa, O! Iowa.

    And she has maids whose laughing eyes, Iowa, O! Iowa,
    To him who loves were Paradise, Iowa, O! Iowa.
    O! happiest fate that e'er was known,
    Such eyes to shine for one alone,
    To call such beauty all his own, Iowa, O! Iowa.

    Go read the story of thy past, Iowa, O! Iowa,
    What glorious deeds, what fame thou hast! Iowa, O! Iowa.
    So long as time's great cycle runs,
    Or nations weep their fallen ones,
    Thou'lt not forget thy patriot sons, Iowa, O! Iowa.

Do all states have a state song?

According to 50States.com, 49 of 50 states have an official state song. New Jersey does not have an official state song, but they do have an unofficial tune that was never signed into law by the governor: I’m From New Jersey.

What other symbols does the state of Iowa have?

Called the Hawkeye State and the Corn State, Iowa’s flag contains red, white, and blue vertical stripes, with the image of a bald eagle on the white section. The state’s motto, “Our liberty we prize, our rights we will maintain,” appears on a streamer under the eagle. Iowa became the 29th state in 1846.

Other state symbols include the eastern goldfinch as the state bird, the wild prairie rose as the state flower, and the northern red oak as the state tree. Iowa’s unofficial state fish is the channel catfish.

What is Iowa known for?

In addition to corn, Iowa is a major producer of soybeans, oats, cattle, and pigs.

America Explained is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
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Lisa Bigelow
By Lisa Bigelow
Lisa Bigelow writes for Bold and is an award-winning content creator, personal finance expert, and mom of three fantastic almost-adults. Lisa has contributed to MagnifyMoney, FinanceBuzz, Life and Money by Citi, Well + Good, Smarter With Gartner, and Popular Science. She lives with her family in Connecticut.
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Discussion Comments
By Izzy78 — On Jan 13, 2012

@jcraig - To be totally honest I feel like the so called hokie sounding songs do depict the state's culture very well.

Although the official state song is a very good serious song written with quite a hit of historical significance that doe snot mean that it is the best song to depict the nature of the state of Iowa.

I am fine with the official state song, but feel like the other unofficial state songs are celebrated for a reason because people like them and think of Iowa in a great light each and every time they are sung or heard.

If these Hokie songs were seen as inappropriate for depicting Iowans, Iowans themselves would hate them and not be as acceptive of them

By jcraig — On Jan 13, 2012

@kentuckycat - I have to agree with you on that and I am absolutely glad that they picked a state song that actually means something as opposed to the other choices.

The other songs, which are recognized as the unofficial state songs, I find to be fairly hokie and not something that should be picked as a state song.

An official state song should be something that is fairly serious and allows for someone to be able to recognize the state's culture and history as well as allow for a resident to embrace the nature of the song.

A simple song that is a bit of a fun rallying cry is not appropriate to be a state song and I am glad they settled on one that was written by an Iowan that actually had Iowan pride while writing the official state song.

By kentuckycat — On Jan 12, 2012

@TreeMan - I absolutely agree with you. To think that a proud Iowa resident wrote such a culturally significant song to the state while being held prisoner in a Civil War Prison Camp allows for the song to actually mean something and allow for residents to know the song is significant in the eyes of Iowan history.

Like the Iowa state bird or flower the state song is supposed to depict a culturally significant item to the state and for the residents to look at something sponsored by the state as something that actually relates to the state.

I feel the state song is appropriate in this regard and feel like it is quite a good state song compared to other official state songs.

By TreeMan — On Jan 11, 2012

I love it that the state of Iowa actually incorporates culture of the state into their song as well as a great message.

The state of Iowa is a unique state and deserves a state song that expresses the culture of the state in a way that it is both a worthy song to represent the state as well as a song that people will associate with Iowa.

I feel like this is a very appropriate song to express the the feelings and culture of the state of Iowa and there is a whole lot of history and charm in the creation of the song itself for it to be a very historical and cultural song.

Lisa Bigelow
Lisa Bigelow
Lisa Bigelow writes for Bold and is an award-winning content creator, personal finance expert, and mom of three fantastic almost-adults. Lisa has contributed to MagnifyMoney, FinanceBuzz, Life and Money by Citi, Well + Good, Smarter With Gartner, and Popular Science. She lives with her family in Connecticut.
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