SING THE STATES #14: Vermont

On March 4th, 1791, Vermont became the 14th state to join the Union. After looking around for something to post about it, I decided I couldn't top this description from Wikipedia:

"The state is noted for its scenery and dairy products. It is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States. The state capital is Montpelier, and the largest city and metropolitan area is Burlington. No other state has a largest city as small as Burlington, or a capital city as small as Montpelier."

So Vermont is known for its scenery, milk, and smallish biggest-places? Thanks Wikipedia. It's also the home of Ben & Jerry's, the hippie-beloved jam-band Phish, and was the very last state to get a Wal-Mart (they held out until 1996 - way to go Vermont). In another slap to Corporate America, Montpelier is also the only state capital to not have a McDonald's in it. I've never been, but I think I'd like Vermont.

Representing the Green Mountain State is The Magnetic Fields with "Long Vermont Roads", one of many odes to roads off 1994's The Charm of the Highway Strip. It's vintage Magnetic Fields, with Stephin Merritt's distinct bass singing voice floating in a sea of synthesizers, and plenty of silly-yet-still-affecting lyrics like "Your eyes are long Vermont roads with a tacky song on the radio, and your eyes are toothless young men in Tennessee in the rain again." Enjoy!

Also considered: Willie Nelson - Moonlight in Vermont; Ferraby Lionheart - Vermont Avenue; Ed's Redeeming Qualities - Christmas in Vermont

The Magnetic Fields - Long Vermont Roads
from the album The Charm of the Highway Strip (Amazon/iTunes)


Check out the rest of our SING THE STATES posts!