Rocky Mountain High

The Colorado state legislature just passed a bill proclaiming the John Denver song to be Colorado’s second state song, after the original state song, whatever obscure tune that may be.

Good for them. The song is not to everyone’s taste, but a lot of people like it, as I do, because it captures what makes Colorado a great state.

Two comments.

1. The power of “tradition”. It’s not clear why the bill didn’t simply replace the original state song. My assumption is that the sponsor wanted to avoid resistance from traditionalists who didn’t want to lose the heritage of the original song, or some crap like that. That just kills me, since I’ve never heard the original song, have never heard anyone talk about it, and would be amazed if even a single-digit percentage of the state’s population has. I’m all for keeping links to the past alive, but can’t be bothered when those links are already dead.

2. There was some concern in the legislature that “Rocky Mountain High” is a drug song, and so by approving the bill the legislature would be promoting drug use. Apparently there was an amendment (later defeated) to make an Official Clarification to the Official Second State Song saying that it in no ways was about drugs. My response – oh come on. Yes, the word ‘high’ is an analogy, and the very last line can be read in different ways, but the song is in no ways “about” drugs. Listen to the lyrics. It's about Colorado, and what it means to one man. Any state should be proud to have such a song.

Update - just listened to the song again with my wife. The song, and John Denver, have become something of a cliche by now. But when I cut through the cliches and the stereotypes and listen to the song with fresh ears, hearing what he has to say, I'm reminded what a great song it is.