Howard Dietz 1948
Arthur Schwartz
Written for a Broadway musical revue, Inside USA, which celebrated each of the then 48 states. It played 399 performances and ran one year, closing on Valentine’s Day of 1949. It has traditionally been interpreted as a love song, from its musical theater inception to later covers, notably by artist Blossom Dearie. In Inside USA, the song was originated by Jack Haley and Estelle Loring.
Blossom Dearie: Blossom Dearie – Rhode Island Is Famous for You, 1960
https://youtu.be/IXxL3B36KJw?si=VGsUm0xUnPKonbYO
Copper comes from Arizona Peaches come from Georgia And lobsters come from Maine The wheat fields are the sweet fields of Nebraska And Kansas gets bonanzas from the grain Old whiskey comes from old Kentucky Ain’t the country lucky New Jersey gives us glue And you, you come from Rhode Island And little old Rhode Island is famous for you Cotton comes from Louisiana Gophers from Montana And spuds from Idaho They plow land in the cow land of Missouri Where most beef meant for roast beef seems to grow Grand canyons come from Colorado Gold comes from Nevada Divorces also do And you, you come from Rhode Island And little old Rhode Island is famous for you Pencils come from Pennsylvania Vests from Vest Virginia And Tents from Tent-essee They know mink where they grow mink in Wyo-mink A camp chair in New Hamp-chair, that’s for me And minnows come Minnesota Coats come from Dakota But why should you be blue For you, you come from Rhode Island And little old Rhode Island is famous for you