Rhode Island's It for Me

The lyrics were written by Charlie Hall, the music was written by Maria Day, and the piece was arranged by Kathryn Chester.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ri.gov/facts/song.php |title=Official State Song |publisher=www.ri.gov |language=en |access-date=2023-06-05}} Hall, a comedian, was known for poking fun at Rhode Island in the songs composed for the comedy troupes of "Charlie Hall's Ocean State Follies".{{cite book | last = Brown | first = Seth | title= Rhode Island Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff | publisher = Globe Pequot | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-0-7627-4338-4 | pages = 33–34}} Asked at some point after 1992 if he could write something good about the state, Hall penned "Rhode Island's It for Me".{{cite book | last = Klein | first = Ted | title = Rhode Island | edition = 2 | publisher = Marshall Cavendish | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-0-7614-2560-1 | page = 112}}

The narrator describes falling in love with and finding a home in Rhode Island, despite having visited every other U.S. state. Much of the song uses ocean imagery, and references to Rhode Island's historic neighborhoods, landmarks, and leaders, including College Hill, the Jewelry District, the State House, and Roger Williams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ri.gov/|title=RIGOV|last=RI.gov|publisher=www.ri.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}}

I’ve been to every state we have

and I think that I'm inclined to say

that Rhody stole my heart

You can keep the forty nine.

Herring gulls that dot the sky,

blue waves that paint the rocks,

waters rich with Neptune's life,

the boats that line the docks,

I see the lighthouse flickering

to help the sailors see.

There's a place for everyone:

Rhode Island's it for me.

Rhode Island, oh, Rhode Island

surrounded by the sea.

Some people roam the earth for home;

Rhode Island's it for me.

I love the fresh October days,

the buzz on College Hill,

art that moves an eye to tear,

a jeweler’s special skill.

Icicles refract the sun,

snow falling gracefully.

Some search for a place that’s warm:

Rhode Island's it for me.

Rhode Island, oh, Rhode Island

surrounded by the sea.

Some people roam the earth for home;

Rhode Island's it for me.

The skyline piercing Providence,

the State House dome so rare,

residents who speak their minds;

No longer unaware!

Roger Williams would be proud to see

his “colony”

so don't sell short this precious port:

Rhode Island's it for me.

Rhode Island, oh, Rhode Island

surrounded by the sea.

Some people roam the earth for home;

Rhode Island's it for me.

Rhode Island, oh, Rhode Island

surrounded by the sea.

Some people roam the earth for home:

Rhode Island's it for me!

By Charlie Hall{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KRXOzrVgZToC&q=%22Rhode+Island%2C+It%27s+For+Me%22&pg=PA17|title=Rhode Island|last=Warner|first=John F.|date=2002-09-01|publisher=Lerner Publications|isbn=978-0-8225-4108-0|language=en}}

Some sources suggest that local comedian Charlie Hall[http://richof.org/charlie-hall/ Charlie Hall – RI Comedy Hall of Fame] wrote the song after his second cousin Providence Mayor Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci challenged Hall's frequent criticisms of Rhode Island.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/state-song/rhode-island.html|title=Rhode Island State Song: Rhode Island's It for Me|publisher=www.ereferencedesk.com|access-date=2019-11-06}} Cianci was likely referencing Hall's production of "Ocean State Follies"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=8u3v-Kzzxpo&feature=emb_title OCEAN STATE FOLLIES 2018 Highlights - Charlie Hall - YouTube] and "Rhode Bytes",[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGul6qgRZ1c Rhode Bytes: Halloween Episode PART 1 OF 4 - YouTube] both highly popular comedy shows that mocked state culture and political affairs, as well as Hall's leadership in the Rhode Island Comedy Festival.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ4mA0L8xSE Charlie Hall Comedy in RI - YouTube]{{Cite web|url=http://www.riheritagehalloffame.com/inductees_detail.cfm?iid=772 |title=Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame: Charlie Hall, Inducted 2017 |publisher=www.riheritagehalloffame.com |access-date=2019-11-06}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PHi2qWoR29sC&q=charlie+hall+rhode+island&pg=PA112|title=Rhode Island|last=Klein|first=Ted|date=2008|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-2560-1|language=en}} The song was first sung during Hall's "Ocean State Follies," and was performed on the show for years, with an overwhelmingly positive audience reception, before gaining lawmakers' attention as a contender for state song.{{Cite news |date=June 22, 2000|title=Best bets|url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.revproxy.brown.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=family%3AF83D3%21Providence%2BJournal%2B%28RI%29&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Rhode%20Island%2C%20It%27s%20For%20Me%22&docref=news/152512BE0C6F8478 |newspaper=The Providence Journal |pages=F-02|via=NewsBank}}{{Cite news |last=Bates|first=David E.|date=September 7, 1996|title=Sing song's glory|url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.revproxy.brown.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=family%3AF83D3%21Providence%2BJournal%2B%28RI%29&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Rhode%20Island%2C%20It%27s%20For%20Me%22&docref=news/15251FBF3B1F7F80|work=The Providence Journal |pages=A-09|via=NewsBank}}

Congress prompted some rewrites to the lyrics, seeking expansion and diversification of state references, but ultimately approved the song and officially adopted it on July 29, 1996.

Maria Day sang "Rhode Island's It for Me" at the closing of the Rhode Island gubernatorial inauguration of Lincoln C. Almond, on January 3, 1995.{{Cite news |date=January 1, 1995|title=Almond to take oath Tuesday|url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.revproxy.brown.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=family%3AF83D3%21Providence%2BJournal%2B%28RI%29&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Rhode%20Island%2C%20It%27s%20For%20Me%22&docref=news/1525219EE0802120|work=The Providence Journal|pages=A-12|via=NewsBank}}

On March 26, 2014, candidate for Rhode Island governor Todd J. Giroux began his campaign by leading a fourth grade field trip to the Statehouse in a chorus of "Rhode Island's It for Me".{{Cite news |last=Arditi |first=Lynn |date=March 26, 2014|title=Politics {{!}} Giroux launches bid for governor |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.revproxy.brown.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=family%3AF83D3%21Providence%2BJournal%2B%28RI%29&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Rhode%20Island%2C%20It%27s%20For%20Me%22&docref=news/15241E8275958B68|work=The Providence Journal |pages=MAIN_06|via=NewsBank}}

The official designation of "Rhode Island's It for Me" came under some criticism for its inaccurate and allegedly unsophisticated lyrics. One 1996 editorial for The Providence Journal suggested the song could have been "better composed by a third-grade gym class." The author also raised concerns over the lyrics' false affirmation of Rhode Island as a literal island.{{Cite news |last=McIntyre |first=Ernest A. |date=August 16, 1996 |title=Surround this song with the sea |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.revproxy.brown.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=family%3AF83D3%21Providence%2BJournal%2B%28RI%29&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Rhode%20Island%2C%20It%27s%20For%20Me%22&docref=news/15251F985CCC2D58|work=The Providence Journal |pages=B-07|via=NewsBank}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.ri.gov/facts/song.php Rhode Island state government web page of the song]
• [http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/song/ri_it_for_me.htm State Song Legal Information]
• [http://www.50states.com/songs/rdisl.htm Song] with Sheet music and MIDI File

{{List of U.S. state songs}}

Category:Music of Rhode Island

Category:Songs about Rhode Island

Category:Symbols of Rhode Island

Category:United States state songs