Cities and Songs: Part II Quiz | Cities in Song

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Let us start with a song that mentions many cities and towns around the world. "I've Been Everywhere" has been recorded in various versions according to the country, including Australia, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand and others. Who was the first singer to record the song?

Answer: Lucky Starr

All of the above recorded the song but Lucky Starr first recorded it in 1962 in Australia. The song was written by the Australian country singer Geoff Mack (b. 1922) in 1959. Lucky Starr (born in 1940 as Leslie Morrison) is an Australian pop, folk singer and TV presenter.

The song was offered by Mack to Canadian born country singer Hank Snow and it became the number one hit in Country Music in the USA in November 1962.

2. In 1957 Johnny Cash released "Folsom Prison Blues". In the lyrics, in which city did he shoot a man?

Answer: Reno

San Antone is country slang for the city of San Antonio (Texas), Folsom Prison is just outside the City of Folsom (California) and Kingsland (Arkansas) is
where Johnny was born in February 20, 1932. Sadly he passed away in 2003. Reno is in Nevada.
The lyrics to the second verse are:
"When I was just a baby,
My Mamma told me, "Son,
Always be a good boy,
Don't ever play with guns,"
But I shot a man in Reno,
Just to watch him die,
When I hear that whistle blowin',
I hang my head and cry."

3. "California Dreamin' was first released by The Mamas & the Papas in 1965 but has also been recorded by The Beach Boys, The Seekers, The Carpenters, George Benson and many more. Although not mentioned in the lyrics what city (Atlantic east coast city) is referred to "All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray, I've been for a walk on a winter's day,I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A., California Dreamin' on a winter's day"?

Answer: New York

The song was written by John and Michele Phillips in 1963 when they were living in New York. At the time they were members of the folk group The New Journeymen which evolved into The Mamas & the Papas.

4. At the Eurovision contest in 1974 a Swedish group won with a song about a Belgian city. What is the name of this city?

Answer: Waterloo

The group were ABBA and from this win in 1974 their careers were launched onto the international music scene. The song is about a girl who is about to surrender to romance. In the lyrics it referred to Napoleon's surrender at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

5. In 1980 Bruce Springsteen released "Hungry Heart". In the lyrics, in what city were the wife and kids?

Answer: Baltimore

The first line of the song is "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack". In the lyrics he fell in love with a girl he met in a bar in Kingstown. "The Streets of Philadelphia" were written and sung by Bruce for the 1993 movie "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks. Bruce was born in Long Branch, New Jersey (USA) on September 23, 1949.

6. The "Ballad of John and Yoko" was the Beatles last single in 1969. There are a number of cities mentioned in the lyrics, but where did John and Yoko get married?

Answer: Gibraltar

John wrote this ballad in Paris during his and Yoko's honeymoon. It is a story of their wedding in Gibraltar, to Paris, to Amsterdam and a quick trip to Vienna and then back to London. It was recorded with Paul McCartney as George and Ringo were not available at the time.

7. Willie Nelson released "Bloody Mary Morning" in 1970. In the lyrics, where was he flying down to?

Answer: Houston

The first verse of the song is as follows:
"Well, it's a bloody Mary morning
Baby left me without warning
Sometime in the night
So I'm flying down to Houston
With forgetting her the nature of my flight"

8. In 1973 Deep Purple released "Smoke on the Water" which was about a casino burning down in which city?

Answer: Montreux (Switzerland)

The song refers to the Montreux Casino that actually did burn down in December 1971. The members of Deep Purple were staying at the nearby Grand Hotel and
watched the fire from their hotel. They were in Montreux to record an album.

9. In the movie "Robin and the 7 Hoods" (1975) Frank Sinatra sang the song "My Kind of Town". Although the movie was filmed in California, what city was Frank singing about?

Answer: Chicago

He also sang about Chicago in the movie "The Joker is Wild" (1957) and the song was entitled "Chicago (that Toddlin' Town)". Many singers have recorded songs that refer to New York and Memphis and Tony Bennett's signature song is "I Left My Heart in San Francisco".

10. Memphis, Tennessee is reputed have been mentioned in more songs that any other city in the USA. Which "Memphis" song did Marc Cohn write and record?

Answer: Walking in Memphis

Marc Cohn is a folk singer and song writer and wrote and recorded the song in 1991. The song has become Marc Cohn's biggest hit to date and he is a Gammy Award winner. Chuck Berry recorded "Memphis, Tennessee" (1959), Johnny Cash "Going to Memphis" (1960) and "Memphis Beat" was by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1966.
Memphis is said to be the birthplace of Blues and Rock 'n' Roll. The first Blues song ever published was by W. C. Handy (considered the Father of Blues) called "Memphis Blues" (1912).

Source: Author zambesi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Cities and Songs: Part II Trivia Quiz

Here is Part II of some more songs that mention cities in either their title or in the lyrics. Try and test your musical knowledge.

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