I am trying to make a life in Texas now, but I admit that I do look over my shoulder to the West to keep up on what's going on in the Phoenix area and throughout the state. I would like to end up there again at some point too. But for now, the city of Austin and Texas in general is being very kind and has been instrumental in helping me get back on my feet. I'd still like to be in Arizona to blow out the 100 candles on the 14th though; at least I'll be able to visit later during the Centennial year.
So to commemorate this event I present a few songs that refer to Arizona in some way. I'm sure there are more than the ones I list below, so please feel free to COMMENT and let me know the ones I missed.
By the Time I Get to Phoenix - Glenn Campbell
Probably the most popular song mentioning Phoenix. But don't ask me that, because I'm not too familiar with it - and that's most likely the case with any Gen X'er or Gen after, but I guess it was a show stopper at some point.
There is No Arizona - Jamie O'Neal
"There is no Arizona/No painted desert, no Sedona/If there was a Grand Canyon/She could fill it up with the lies he's told her."
Is Anybody Going to San Antone (or Phoenix, Arizona)? - Charlie Pride
This song reminds me of my young childhood. Charley Pride was a regular in my Dad's country music rotation. This particular video made me chuckle a bit.
Route 66 - Bobby Troup
"Flagstaff, AZ, don't forget Winona, Kingman..." It just so happens that Arizona hosts the longest remaining section of historic Route 66. (The attached video is a cover of Bobby Troup's song)
Ocean Front Property in Arizona - George Strait
Take it Easy - The Eagles
"Standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona/Such a fine sight to see." ...it's not
Back When the Old Stuff Was New - Garth Brooks
"when the weather turned bad in Scottsdale/A tornado nearly stole the show/We just danced in the rain and listened to the Thunder Roll!" I wasn't at that concert, but I remember that night when he was in town and there was a HUGE storm and indeed a tornado during it. Garth doesn't allow his songs to be shared, so no video attachment.
Hey Willie - Waylon Jennings
"Hey Willie, let's pack up and catch us a slow train/And go back to Phoenix to a far brighter day/Where stars were for shining in the Arizona sky/And music meant more than fortune or fame."
Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot
For the longest time I thought this song was called "Every Highway" because that's what I thought Gordon was saying. Oh well. State Route 74 is a desert passage just north of Phoenix stretching from its eastern origin in Carefree, AZ west to intersect with Highway 60 as it heads to Wickenburg, and later, Las Vegas. Enjoy this song as it's sung to us by a Peterbilt, of course.
Tune Out - The Format
"the 51 is backed up and too slow/Let's tune out by turning on the radio" Ah, another song that references the department of transportation. This time is State Route 51, aka Piestewa Parkway. The Format is a Tempe band who threw in a local reference in this Pop single.
Aenima - Tool
Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenan, is an Arizona resident in the Page Springs area, and in this dramatic number he sings of the the hope for an apocalyptic tectonic event that would ultimately dump Los Angeles into the Pacific Ocean, taking with it all the bull.... that goes with it. I suppose it could be considered Tool's version of "Ocean Front Property in Arizona", only darker and with more angst. His advice to Californians? - "Learn to swim. I'll see you down in Arizona bay." Although the song is a musical tour de force, there's ample profanity as Keenan doesn't hold back expressing his displeasure of Tinsel Town, so... yeah, no video attachment this time.
3x5's - John Mayer
"Today, skies are painted colors of a cowboy cliche..." Now, John doesn't specifically mention Arizona in the lyrics of this song; but when I saw his concert at Cricket Pavilion in West Phoenix years ago, for his encore he did an acoustic version of this song and told us the story of what inspired it: He was traveling east from California into Arizona along Interstate 10 near Quartzite, AZ as the sun was rising over the desert mountains. It "brought him back to life." Stick around, John, and just wait til you see the sunsets.
In the House of Stone and Light - Martin Page
"It's been too long/My spirit's been at war/Havasupai Shaman, let me be reborn!/And I will embrace the sun upon my face/Come the day I wake the child inside." I've always liked this song. It contains some profound lyricism, a nice rhythm and a catchy bridge. Plus I think it manages to capture a little of Arizona's majesty and mystery in its tone, and it refers to its Native cultures. The state is a house of stone and light that can inspire, invigorate, and reinvigorate. See the "Monumental Journey" blog posts for more on that.
I hope you enjoyed. Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona!
"Ditat Deus" [God Enriches]
