New York State of Song Quiz | Geography in Songs

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "It starts high in the mountains of the north Crystal clear and icy trickles forth With just a few floating wrappers of chewing gum Dropped by some hikers to warn of things to come At Glens Falls, five thousand honest hands Work at the consolidated paper plant Five million gallons of waste a day Why should we do it any other way?" Pete Seeger sang this song, lamenting the pollution of what body of NY state water?

Answer: The Hudson River

Seeger's "God Bless the Grass" album, released in 1982, focused on environmental issues. He was especially interested in cleaning up the Hudson River.

"Well it's Sailing up my dirty stream
Still I love it and I'll dream
That some day, though maybe not this year
My Hudson and my country will run clear"

2. "As long as ______________ As long as Gibraltar stands Till Hell freezes over I'll always be your man" What famous watery landmark near Buffalo completes this lyric?

Answer: Niagara Falls

"Niagara Falls", by the group Chicago was released on the 1986 album, "Chicago 18". This album was the first album released after the departure of the band's lead singer Peter Cetera. It peaked at ninety-one on the Billboard Hot 100.

3. "As we drove on through the Finger Lakes Water shining at our side I was wrestling the demons in my mind" The song "Finger Lakes" was recorded in 2005 by what Canadian band?

Answer: Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country-rock band. "Finger Lakes" was included on their 2005 album "Are You Ready?"

The Finger Lakes are a series of lakes in upstate New York. The 11 official Finger Lakes are long and thin, and close together. The land between the lakes is excellent for growing grapes, and this region produces much of New Yor State's wine. Taking a limo tour of the wineries is a popular (and tasty) activity!

4. Chris DeBurgh sang a song that includes these lines: "You have always been such a good friend to me Through the thunder and the rain And when you're feeling lost in the _____ of New York Lift your heart and think of me" What is the missing word?

Answer: snows

The song gives no indication as to whether the song is about New York City or New York State. But, given that upstate NY gets much more snow than downstate, I think he's referring to New York State!

5. The Gorgeous were a Canadian metalcore band formed in 2003. They released an album titled "Great Lakes" which included a song with these lyrics: "Follow your feet into the water. Lightning never follows thunder. It's been storming and your still swimming. The bolts burn brighter. The water's hotter." Which one of the Great Lakes is the song about? (Hint: It separates New York from Canada.)

Answer: Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes, with an area of 7,320 sq miles. On the New York shore, Rochester is the largest port. My house sits on Braddock Bay, a small bay of Lake Ontario near the Port of Rochester. Braddock Bay is home to the Braddock Bay Raptor Research Center. And in winter, crazy people sit out on the frozen bay and fish for pike and perch!

6. A popular folk song, written in 1905 starts out: "I've got a mule, her name is Sal" The chorus goes like this: "Low bridge, everybody down Low bridge cause we're coming to a town And you'll always know your neighbor And you'll always know your pal If you've ever navigated on the ________. What New York State landmark completes the line?

Answer: Erie Canal

The song, "Fifteen Years on the Erie Canal", was written by Thomas S. Allen. Sometimes called "Low Bridge", "Mule Named Sal", or "The Erie Canal", the song talks of the time when the Erie Canal used mule barges. The Canal was critical to the developments of major New York cities including Utica, Rome, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.

7. David Lee Roth sang: "Jazz it up or play it slow It's still the only song I know It's 2 a.m. and traffic's slow Another ladies' night in ________" What New York city finishes the lyric?

Answer: Buffalo

This David Lee Roth song, titled "Ladies Night in Buffalo?" was recorded for the "Eat 'Em and Smile" album. Buffalo is the second largest city in New York by population. It's nickname is "The Queen City." It was also the first city in the U.S. to have electric street lights. Buffalo has the world's largest Dyngus Day Celebration. Yup.

8. Tony Joe White sang a song with these lyrics: "And the silver cranes came over in formation In a sacred manner they flew And I will always remember The sky, the _________ Blues" What village in the Adirondacks completes these lines? (Hint: the "Miracle on Ice" happened here)

Answer: Lake Placid

Lake Placid is a charming village in the Adirondack Mountains. The 1932 and 1980 Olympics were held here. It was at the 1980 Olympic Games that the USA beat the Soviet Union in ice hockey, advancing to, and winning, the gold medal. Many of the Olympic facilities are still in use. Lake Placid hosts The Empire State Games each year, as well an annual ice dance competition and other sporting events.

9. "I was born in Rochester To a bookmaking man Had a fake cigar shops With the games on in the back See them coming and going Let them ride on thoroughbreds Police chief and Tompaw wondering what was the spread" Who recorded this song, called "Rochester"?

Answer: Mat Kearney

Kearney wrote this song about his grandfather, who ran an illegal gambling ring in Rochester, NY. Rochester is home to George Eastman- and Eastman Kodak. The city was known as the "Flour City" and for a time was the largest flour-producing city in the US.

It is now known as the "Flower City" due especially to the lilacs of Highland Park. Marshmallows got their start in Rochester, and it was here in 1904 that the first prepared mustard was manufactured by the R.T. French Company.

10. "THE THOUSAND ISLANDS SONG (OH! FLORENCE)" from the Broadway Revue "Angel In The Wings" starts with these lines: "I left the one I love on one of the Thousand Islands But unfortunately I can't remember which one So I row, row, row, row up the river St. Lawrence And I'm hollerin' Florence, oh! where can you be? (Where, oh, where, where, oh, where can she be?)" How many islands are there in the Thousand Island region?

Answer: Approximately 2,000

There are between 1,800 and 2,100 islands that make up the Thousand Islands area. The area lies in the Saint Lawrence River between New York State and Canada, near the northeast section of Lake Ontario. One of the islands-- Heart Island -- is home to Boldt Castle, a 120-room castle. Construction of the castle was begun in 1900, as was to be a monument to the love millionaire George C. Boldt had for his wife Louise.

In 1904, with construction partially completed, Louise suddenly died. The heartbroken Boldt ordered all construction stopped.

The castle was abandoned, and remained so for 73 years. In 1977 the property was acquired by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, which as been restoring and completing the castle to the original specifications.

Source: Author Giniw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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New York State of Song Trivia Quiz

Not everyone realizes that New York is not only a city, but it's also a STATE too! Do you recognize these New York State locations, immortalized in song?

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