DESCRIPTION:
Download the mp3, lyrics and additional materials from Discovery Education Streaming
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/39F88434-50FC-4F71-861F-672AD2126961

50 States Album: A 50-song album covering the basic history, geography, and economic structure of each state in the U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkFXQnAzKU78Hz2833mKnet48DwqAuPD7

http://lodgemccammon.com/

Lyrics/Explanation -

Verse 1:
In 1861, in the territory we're the western sons
Who found a lode of silver so we mined it up
Then we split from Utah and renamed our half Nevada
Became a real state only three years later
By '68 we had added some acres
To our south and east, hey call the papers
There are minerals down these ladders

Explanation of Verse 1:
The Comstock Lode silver mine was discovered in the far western Utah Territory close to the Sierra Nevada and California.
In 1861, a few years after mining had been well under way, the U.S. government identified the western half of the Utah Territory as the Nevada Territory (Nevada is short for the Sierra Nevada).
Nevada (NV) became a U.S. state in 1864.
By 1868 NV had increased their land. The only other state to increase their land after becoming a state was Missouri. In 1866 the southern part of NV was added and in 1868 the western part of the Utah Territory was allowed to join NV.
Mining (much of it underground) for minerals has been the central function of the state since the discovery of the Comstock Lode.


Chorus:
We were Battleborn during the Civil War
The 36th added in 1864
All for Our Country with the Comstock Lode
Lincoln's Silver State ammunition

Explanation of the Chorus:
NV is called the Battleborn State because it is one of two states that were admitted to the U.S. during the Civil War. The other one was West Virginia.
NV was admitted in 1864 as the 36th state.
The motto of NV is "We are All for Our Country" which is appropriate because it became a territory because of the discovery of the Comstock Lode. Then, it was fast-tracked to statehood because of the importance of the minerals to the U.S, specifically the northern U.S. economy.
Admitting the Silver State (NV's official nickname) was meant to give Abraham Lincoln the political "ammunition" he needed to be re-elected in 1864, during the Civil War.

Verse 2:
Mostly basin and range with our mountains and valleys
Going vertical kid like the Sierra Nevada
In the southern "V" - we have Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert
Close to the Comstock Lode, Carson really grew quickly
By Lake Tahoe, in our central western region
Close to Reno - The Biggest Little City
105 square miles if we measured

Explanation of Verse 2:
The geography of NV is fairly consistent throughout the state. It is mostly Basin and Range - a series of mountains (similar to the Sierra Nevada) that run from north to south with valleys in between.
The lower part of the state (the "v") is in the Mojave Desert. This is where Las Vegas is located. A large part of this section of NV was added in 1866 and would have been part of what is now Arizona.
Carson City, the capital of NV, is located close to the Comstock Lode. After the discovery, Carson City grew rapidly.
Carson City, Lake Tahoe and Reno are all located in the central western part of NV by the Sierra Nevada.
Reno is called "The Biggest Little City" and the Reno area is just over 105 square miles.

Bridge:
The mountain bluebird is hanging out
With the sagebrush flowers
By the Cave Lake Park
While the bristlecone pine trees leave their mark
Along the Humboldt River

Explanation of the Bridge:
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
State Flower: Sagebrush (NV is also called the Sagebrush State)
Cave Lake, in the east, is one of the many state parks in NV.
State Tree: Bristlecone Pine Tree
The Humboldt River runs east to west across the northern part of NV.

Verse 3:
The Comstock Lode started this territory
The first big U.S. discovery
So we mined, and mined the scenes
For all the silver and gold
Tourism boomed, we made this desert sing
When we added prize fighting and gambling
Our casinos and rooms, ready for visiting
In Las Vegas and Reno

Explanation of Verse 3:
The economic foundation of NV is minerals and mining. The Comstock Lode is likely responsible for NV's quick adoption as a territory and admittance as a U.S. state.
The Comstock Lode was the first big silver discovery in the U.S. It was a very big deal.
In the early years of the state, people came there to mine for minerals, mostly silver and gold.
In the 20th century tourism started to increase drastically with the development and promotion of cities like Las Vegas and Reno.
The popularity and legalization of things like prize fighting and gambling in NV made it a destination for many tourists from around the U.S. and the globe.
Amazing hotels and casinos attract many visitors to NV's cities each year - most notably Las Vegas and Reno.

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Lodge McCammon. All Rights Reserved.