SING THE STATES #07: Maryland

With State #7 in our series we've come to the first state in our list that I've actually lived in! I'm sure you're all excited to know that my family lived in Gaithersburg, MD until I was 8, and that I have all kinds of fond memories of the Old Line State. We lived in a small townhouse there that backed up to a narrow stretch of woods and a creek that became my brother and I's playground for years. If you've ever read Calvin & Hobbes, you have a pretty good idea of how great a little bit of woodland can be for little boys, and we had a lot of adventures back there.

After we moved to the somewhat clausterphobic suburbia of Southern California I began looking back with even more fondness on that little stretch of woods. It was a little shocking to go back about a year ago and see that it really wasn't much at all - just a little patch of trees between our row of townhouses and a little highway. But the world seems a lot bigger when you're eight, you know?

Anyways, here's some random facts about Maryland: its capitol is Annapolis, and its largest city is Baltimore. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maryland's households are the richest in the country, with a mean income of $68,080. MD's state flower is the Black Eyed Susan. Frank Zappa, O.A.R., and Mama Cass Elliot (of the Mamas and the Papas) are from Maryland. And Tupac Shakur started his career in Baltimore.

Our song for Maryland is from Deer Tick, a little indie/folk/blues/rock outfit from Providence, RI. Their 2007 debut, War Elephant, is excellent. This song is from that record. It is also excellent. Enjoy.

Also considered: Stephen Malkmus - Baltimore

Deer Tick - Baltimore Blues No. 1
from the album War Elephant (Amazon/iTunes)


Check out the rest of our SING THE STATES posts!