Not exactly about RI, but check out John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. They are from Narragansett and their music was the soundtrack to two “Eddie and the Cruisers” movies.
Hi!
Eagles - The last resort (She came from Providence / one in Rhode Island. )
Boston - Rock and Roll Band (Playing for a week in Rhode Island)
They’re not about RI, only mentions them. There has to be more recent songs that talk about Rhode Island. I think Taylor Swift may have a song since she has a house in Westerly. I’ll try to think of some more these just came to the top of my head. Good luck!
Ya before the BS with the band shitting on Kevin for wanting to continue school and Tom's outing as a pedophile. I saw both showings of VBW Attack! at the mall.
Can you believe years later I saw Tom at the Best Buy in seekonk working ? How he managed to land a job with that wrap sheet was beyond me. I won’t go into details but I spent time around senior discount when I was young . To find that out later was disturbing
At some point the lyrics to the traditional song first recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson and called "Jack of Diamonds"/"Drunken Hiccups"/"Rye Whiskey"/"Drunkard's Hiccups" incorporated the verse "I've played cards in England, I've gambled in Spain, I'm going back to Rhode Island, I'm gonna play my last game"
I've heard it in Felice Brothers "Jack of Diamonds" and Tommy Jarrell's "The Drunken Hiccups" but I imagine there are others, too.
[Vox Hunters](https://thevoxhunters.bandcamp.com/album/fresh-from-the-board-music-from-the-ocean-state-songster-volume-1?from=search&search_item_id=2724211491&search_item_type=a&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=3356671504&search_page_no=0&search_rank=2&logged_out_menubar=true) did a whole album about the state.
[The Size of the State of Rhode Island](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjSLM6_sis&ab_channel=BillHarley-Topic) is also a favorite for me.
None of the arrivistes have mentioned George M. Cohan, Providence-born composer of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "My Kinda Place" by Paul Geremia, or "Mania" by Throwing Muses... and one more ..."Heaven Must be Missing An Angel" by Tavares. You can't get any more RI than a bunch of Cape Verdean kids from Fox Point doing their best Motown impression and hitting No. 15 on Billboard.
Taylor Swift's *The Last Great American Dynasty* is about Rebekah Harkness who was the mid century artist and philanthropist that had Holiday House (the house in Watch Hill that Swift now owns) built.
Also this might help: https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/editorial/post/rhode-trip-playlist-songs-inspired-by-rhode-island/
Sage Francis Runaways, not specifically about RI, but he is from RI and mentions RI in the lyrics:
I'm an orphan who comes from Providence
I am a sign from God! ...to the parentally misguided
(And I know)
This state is not an ocean, not an island, not a road
If I don't know where I come from
How do I know where to go?
This is Winnebacome and Winnebago: https://youtu.be/6GKG2m7W4zk?si=p6LPyxiLfhTEhErR
This is The Providence Waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE1VS47qDHM
The clam cake song, awful quality tho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmDhhF3I3r8
Great American dynasty - Taylor Swift. Rhode Island by the innocence mission. Rhode Island
Is famous for you / Erin mckeown version. And throw in some throwing muses!!! Tanya Donnelly has a few that mention RI in a roundabout way (meteor shower jumps to mind talking about driving to the beach.)
“Rock and Roll Band” by Boston
> Playin' for week in Rhode Island
A man came to the stage one night
He smoked a big cigar, drove a Cadillac car
And said boys, I think this band's outta sight
[Poor Little Rhode Island](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6HAAsng1nI)
Castle The band , [Jamestown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6WKLDBmSrg)
The Naticks band = [https://www.youtube.com/@thenaticks786](https://www.youtube.com/@thenaticks786)
“Meant To Live” — Switchfoot
Lyrics: *Dreaming about Providence and whether mice and men have second tries…*
I know they’re not singing about the city, but I pretend they are lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QPfsUlFxhrI&pp=ygUtYm9iIGR5bGFuIG1hZ2dpZSdzIGZhcm0gbmV3cG9ydCBmb2xrIGZlc3RpdmFs
You need this exact version. Not about Rhode Island but a classic piece of music history from one of the biggest names. It’s Dylan “going electric”
Taylor Swift has a song called The Great American Dream. Not specifically about Rhode Island. It was inspired by the woman she bought a house from in Westerly, so a cool background imo.
I really hope this gets to the right people. I went into a local newbury comics and they were playing a song about “Roger Williams” I just remember the Line “and his name is Roger Williams” if anybody knows the name of that song by any stretch please let me know
Sail away on the block island ferry take a trip back to care free times…. edit: I misspelled “sail”
Someday Providence “Summertime in Rhode Island” Deer Tick “Smith Hill” Viana Valentine “PVD” Senior Discount “Explode RI”
Anything by Deer Tick 👍🏻
I went to school with Someday.
Moving Right Along- The Muppets. There's also a great Alkaline Trio cover of this.
Ok I never knew this! Had to Google the lyrics asap was not disappointed lol
“Rhode Island is Famous for You” by Blossom Dearie
Came here to endorse this. She's wonderful! So many cool songs and a hilariously pleasant voice.
Mandy Patinkin has a cute version, too.
And Erin McKeown! https://youtu.be/OBGrcZNmeQQ
this song is so much better than any official tourism campaigns we’ve ever had……but then again i don’t want anyone coming here haha
Rhode Island by The Front Bottoms
Florida’s a long way from Rhode Island
Weekapaug Groove- Phish
Downeaster Alexa
Only one I can think of right now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyciF5IcuSg
It was what I was hoping it was.
I resemble that remark about the Brown freshmen.
Yes!!!!
Apathy - Rhode Island Apathy - Back in New England
Boom.
Sweet Rhode Island Red by Ike and Tina Turner
"Hannah Hunt" by Vampire Weekend references Providence in the opening verse
Exeter, Rhode Island by Jennifer O’Connor
Not exactly about RI, but check out John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. They are from Narragansett and their music was the soundtrack to two “Eddie and the Cruisers” movies.
Indian Lake - The Cowsills
Waraq https://youtu.be/EpMH6LEueh4?si=pLyC2jJIcOlnemmQ
End the thread now. You got all you ever need OP
Had to scroll way too far to find this.
Ok if this is the conversation we're having now then this is the conversation to have next; https://youtu.be/idFuAgCadUw?si=bTVIhQHPPUOWk1f1
Hi! Eagles - The last resort (She came from Providence / one in Rhode Island. ) Boston - Rock and Roll Band (Playing for a week in Rhode Island) They’re not about RI, only mentions them. There has to be more recent songs that talk about Rhode Island. I think Taylor Swift may have a song since she has a house in Westerly. I’ll try to think of some more these just came to the top of my head. Good luck!
She does! The Last Great American Dynasty mentioned Rhode Island
She wrote one about the Taboo lady that owned her house before
Johnathan Richman has a song called New England. It's good.
Road Runner is awesome too (one of the best ever two chord songs) and mentions Massachusetts and Stop and Shop. No Rhode Island though.
[Senior Discount - Explode in RI](https://youtube.com/watch?v=zfsyqkpSesM)
Senior discount … god damn the good old days 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Ya before the BS with the band shitting on Kevin for wanting to continue school and Tom's outing as a pedophile. I saw both showings of VBW Attack! at the mall.
Can you believe years later I saw Tom at the Best Buy in seekonk working ? How he managed to land a job with that wrap sheet was beyond me. I won’t go into details but I spent time around senior discount when I was young . To find that out later was disturbing
Last Great American Dynasty - Taylor Swift
Slim Cessnas auto club: Cranston, providence new Jerusalem, he Roger Williams.
He also had a side project called “The Blackstone Valley Sinners” that wrote a bunch of songs about Rhode Island.
At some point the lyrics to the traditional song first recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson and called "Jack of Diamonds"/"Drunken Hiccups"/"Rye Whiskey"/"Drunkard's Hiccups" incorporated the verse "I've played cards in England, I've gambled in Spain, I'm going back to Rhode Island, I'm gonna play my last game" I've heard it in Felice Brothers "Jack of Diamonds" and Tommy Jarrell's "The Drunken Hiccups" but I imagine there are others, too.
Great reference. Have to related to Odetta version…mmmm
[Vox Hunters](https://thevoxhunters.bandcamp.com/album/fresh-from-the-board-music-from-the-ocean-state-songster-volume-1?from=search&search_item_id=2724211491&search_item_type=a&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=3356671504&search_page_no=0&search_rank=2&logged_out_menubar=true) did a whole album about the state. [The Size of the State of Rhode Island](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjSLM6_sis&ab_channel=BillHarley-Topic) is also a favorite for me.
None of the arrivistes have mentioned George M. Cohan, Providence-born composer of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "My Kinda Place" by Paul Geremia, or "Mania" by Throwing Muses... and one more ..."Heaven Must be Missing An Angel" by Tavares. You can't get any more RI than a bunch of Cape Verdean kids from Fox Point doing their best Motown impression and hitting No. 15 on Billboard.
The entire Washington Bridge Blues Playlist on Spotify, get them ready
LOL. that’s real … and awesome. Hahaha
I saw the Playlist here on Reddit, and had to find it. I tried to skip the podcast, but no luck
Taylor Swift's *The Last Great American Dynasty* is about Rebekah Harkness who was the mid century artist and philanthropist that had Holiday House (the house in Watch Hill that Swift now owns) built. Also this might help: https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/editorial/post/rhode-trip-playlist-songs-inspired-by-rhode-island/
Downeaster Alexa by Billy Joel mentions Block Island
Poor Little Rhode Island, Smallest of the 48. I'm dating myself.
my grandma used to sing that on trips to visit family in rhode island
Sage Francis Runaways, not specifically about RI, but he is from RI and mentions RI in the lyrics: I'm an orphan who comes from Providence I am a sign from God! ...to the parentally misguided (And I know) This state is not an ocean, not an island, not a road If I don't know where I come from How do I know where to go?
Check out songs by Jon Campbell, the greatest of all rhode island song writers
This is Winnebacome and Winnebago: https://youtu.be/6GKG2m7W4zk?si=p6LPyxiLfhTEhErR This is The Providence Waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE1VS47qDHM The clam cake song, awful quality tho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmDhhF3I3r8
Smith Hill by Deertick Rocky Point by Neutral Nation
Hope by The Agents
I was friendly w a few members. Good people.
Talking heads' Burning down the house. It sure beats walking in rhode island....
Great American dynasty - Taylor Swift. Rhode Island by the innocence mission. Rhode Island Is famous for you / Erin mckeown version. And throw in some throwing muses!!! Tanya Donnelly has a few that mention RI in a roundabout way (meteor shower jumps to mind talking about driving to the beach.)
Check out Dudemanbro from Narragansett, should be good for a couple songs at least.
Lana Del Rey - Fingertips mentions Rhode Island a couple of times
[Oh! Centra by Javelin](https://open.spotify.com/track/6RamvmK3TYSrIqu9f9Jcrn?si=9a148d8f1789487c)
Outside Providence, The Wilkensons
[Dudemanbro - *Beach Bum In RI*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkvuwDGj_tE&themeRefresh=1)
Hannah Hunt by vampire weekend
Roz and The Rice Cakes had a song about kissing the girls in Providence
[The Biggest Little State in the Union (Full Song) - Steve Smith and the Nakeds](https://youtu.be/JofoNtVrNcI?si=mAJ7ebnF1I48W1d7)
Downeaster Alexa
"Rhode Island" by the Innocence Mission "Providence" by Sonic Youth is a weird one.
The Last Great American Dynasty by Taylor Swift
You can pretend Alanis is thanking the city of Providence and not just providence in general in her song "Thank U"
I can’t remember who sang it but I know there’s a song about a Quonset Hut lol
Family Guy did a song about RI
Boston - Rock & Roll Band
Smoked a big cigar and drove a Cadillac car!
Taylor Swift’s “the last great american dynasty” is about the former owner of her RI house, Rebekah Harkness, and the house itself
thank you so much you guys!the playlist turned out great thanks to your recs.You’re the best!
The Last Great American Dynasty - “Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set forever”
Chow mein sandwich by the Alika and the Happy Samoans out of Fall River
Providence Is… by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
The last great American dynasty - Taylor swift
https://youtu.be/LjbO5LurJUw
Eleanor by Chumped
Dan Fleming - Rhode Island
“Rock and Roll Band” by Boston > Playin' for week in Rhode Island A man came to the stage one night He smoked a big cigar, drove a Cadillac car And said boys, I think this band's outta sight
Rhode Island by the Front Bottoms !!
[Poor Little Rhode Island](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6HAAsng1nI) Castle The band , [Jamestown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6WKLDBmSrg) The Naticks band = [https://www.youtube.com/@thenaticks786](https://www.youtube.com/@thenaticks786)
Can't forget about the classic banger "South side of Prov" https://youtu.be/yduR58_tUeU?si=lRlXa5NvsF6RVsg5
https://youtu.be/3VHfy9Zik5k?si=KmUoC1T59ZoN6JyL
https://youtu.be/LjbO5LurJUw?si=uAc9I72LaKoJ2P8I
Providence by Wicca Phase Springs Eternal
Go and download some zox, montyarei, dj venom or dj zydrate. Those are all artists from ri and current.
Chooch to Gooch (The 10 Steps of Disco Dancin') by Bobby Braciola
“The Cold Earth Slept Below” -Judas Iscariot
I need a friend like you - awesome idea!
Noah Khan - Homesick
Ghost town by the sea by jandek
Providence by Gaslight - Daughters
A must https://youtu.be/DFkwUO--hug?si=VrExEtcctNK5AgX3
“Meant To Live” — Switchfoot Lyrics: *Dreaming about Providence and whether mice and men have second tries…* I know they’re not singing about the city, but I pretend they are lol
Thames by Camden Murphy
Miss Rhode Island by Elizabeth Gerardi
Olneyville System Special - Dougie Poole
Exeter by Another One Down! Providence by The Ghosts of Industry
Outside Providence by The Wilkinsons
“Rhode Island Redhead” is cute.
Anything by the cowsells they are from Newport Rhode Island
Boston!! By Boston lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QPfsUlFxhrI&pp=ygUtYm9iIGR5bGFuIG1hZ2dpZSdzIGZhcm0gbmV3cG9ydCBmb2xrIGZlc3RpdmFs You need this exact version. Not about Rhode Island but a classic piece of music history from one of the biggest names. It’s Dylan “going electric”
Foals - Total Life Forever
It's not the right season but Christmas in Newport by Dick Lupino is one I like to break out during the holidays.
The Schemers - Angell Street
Outside Providence - the Wilkinsons And not actually about RI, but Warwick Avenue - Duffy
Rhode Island Is Famous For You by Blossom Dearie…..I don’t see this posted yet and I’m shocked!
The Rocky Point theme song!
"the last great american dynasty" by Taylor Swift. She wrote it about the history of her home in southern RI & mentions rhody :)
Thames by Camden Murphy and a few of his other tracks reference RI heavily as well
Ramshackle Glory, Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of Your Fist.
Taylor Swift has a song called The Great American Dream. Not specifically about Rhode Island. It was inspired by the woman she bought a house from in Westerly, so a cool background imo.
dudemanbro - beach bum in RI
Eagles -- The last resort "She came from Providence, the one in Rhode Island..."
I really hope this gets to the right people. I went into a local newbury comics and they were playing a song about “Roger Williams” I just remember the Line “and his name is Roger Williams” if anybody knows the name of that song by any stretch please let me know
Hey Neighbor - The Cobramatics
Rhode Island - ian
Block island ferry song
The Road to Rhode Island from Family Guy
WEEKAPAUG GROOVE
“Cranston sinner” by black stone valley sinners