Alabama · The Yellowhammer State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Alabama state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Alabama's official state song is “Alabama”, adopted in 1931. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Sweet Home Under Southern Pines”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Alabama, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Alabama
Southern soul and gospel-tinged country anthem, warm electric guitar, Hammond organ, handclaps and a church-choir chorus
“Sweet Home Under Southern Pines” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Female vocal · Southern soul and gospel-tinged country anthem.
Verse 1
Morning breaks on Mobile Bay, the shrimp boats heading out
Camellias open on the porch, the red clay all about
From Huntsville where the rockets rise to Birmingham's old steel
Alabama, you're the ground my feet were made to feel
Chorus
Alabama, sweet home under southern pines
Yellowhammer singing down those river lines
Montgomery to the Gulf, the whole wide heart of you
Alabama, I was born to sing you true
Verse 2
The Tennessee comes winding slow through Muscle Shoals at night
Where songs were cut on two-inch tape and sounded just right
Saturday the stadiums roar, and Sunday bells ring clear
Every road I ever take leads back to here
Chorus
Alabama, sweet home under southern pines
Yellowhammer singing down those river lines
Montgomery to the Gulf, the whole wide heart of you
Alabama, I was born to sing you true
Bridge
Through the storms and through the years, we hold on to our own
Alabama, every mile of you is home
Chorus
Alabama, sweet home under southern pines
Yellowhammer singing down those river lines
Montgomery to the Gulf, the whole wide heart of you
Alabama, I was born to sing you true
About “Sweet Home Under Southern Pines”
Our Alabama song is a Southern soul anthem: organ, handclaps and a choir chorus, the sound the state gave the world from the Muscle Shoals studios. The lyrics move from Mobile Bay on the Gulf to Huntsville's rocket city and Birmingham's steel history.
It names the yellowhammer, the state bird, the camellia, the state flower, and the Tennessee River that bends through north Alabama. Alabama's official state song, "Alabama", has been in place since 1931.
Places and symbols in the song
- Mobile Bay
- the Tennessee River
- Huntsville rockets
- Montgomery
- camellias
- Yellowhammer (northern flicker)
- Camellia
SongUp AI composed and sang this song from the lyrics above and the style line under the title, the same way it makes songs for its users. It is not the official state song and it is not a cover.
The official state song of Alabama
- Title
- “Alabama”
- Written by
- words by Julia S. Tutwiler, music by Edna Gockel Gussen
- Status
- adopted in 1931
Tutwiler, a teacher and prison reformer, wrote the poem in the 1870s after studying in Germany; the legislature made the song official in 1931.
Many official state songs are still in copyright, so their lyrics are not printed here. The state's own website or legislature publishes the official text.
Alabama at a glance
- Nickname
- The Yellowhammer State
- Capital
- Montgomery
- Largest city
- Huntsville
- Statehood
- December 14, 1819 (22nd state)
- Motto
- Audemus jura nostra defendere (We dare defend our rights)
- State bird
- Yellowhammer (northern flicker)
- State flower
- Camellia
- Official state song
- "Alabama" (in 1931)
Questions about Alabama's state song
What is the official state song of Alabama?
The official state song of Alabama is "Alabama", words by Julia S. Tutwiler, music by Edna Gockel Gussen, adopted in 1931. Tutwiler, a teacher and prison reformer, wrote the poem in the 1870s after studying in Germany; the legislature made the song official in 1931.
Is "Sweet Home Under Southern Pines" the official state song of Alabama?
No. "Sweet Home Under Southern Pines" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Alabama. The official state song is "Alabama", adopted in 1931. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Sweet Home Under Southern Pines" about?
Our Alabama song is a Southern soul anthem: organ, handclaps and a choir chorus, the sound the state gave the world from the Muscle Shoals studios. The lyrics move from Mobile Bay on the Gulf to Huntsville's rocket city and Birmingham's steel history. It names Mobile Bay, the Tennessee River, Huntsville rockets, Montgomery and camellias, with the state bird (yellowhammer (northern flicker)) and state flower (camellia) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Alabama" and when was it adopted?
"Alabama" is credited to words by Julia S. Tutwiler, music by Edna Gockel Gussen; it was adopted in 1931. Tutwiler, a teacher and prison reformer, wrote the poem in the 1870s after studying in Germany; the legislature made the song official in 1931.
What are Alabama's state symbols?
Alabama is nicknamed The Yellowhammer State. Its capital is Montgomery and its largest city is Huntsville. It joined the Union on December 14, 1819 (22nd state). The state motto is "Audemus jura nostra defendere (We dare defend our rights)", the state bird is the yellowhammer (northern flicker) and the state flower is the camellia.
Can I play or share "Sweet Home Under Southern Pines"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Alabama, your town, your school or your family, with the names and places you choose, describe it on the Create page: a free account hears a 30-second preview of its own lyrics sung, and a full song comes with a Pro plan.
How do I make my own song about Alabama?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Huntsville, AL") or paste your own lyrics, pick a voice, and SongUp AI writes, sings and mixes it in a few minutes. Every song comes with a lyric video, stems and a gift page.