Colorado · The Centennial State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Colorado state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Colorado's official state song is “Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High”, the first adopted in 1915, the second added in 2007. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Columbine Sky”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Colorado, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Colorado
Mountain folk-rock, acoustic guitar, banjo, warm pedal steel and a wide open chorus with stacked harmonies
“Columbine Sky” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male vocal · Mountain folk-rock.
Verse 1
Aspen leaves are turning gold along the mountain road
Snow is on the fourteeners, the rivers overflowed
Pikes Peak in the morning light, the plains stretched out below
Colorado, you're the height my heart was built to go
Chorus
Under a columbine sky, a mile above the sea
Lark bunting on the prairie wind singing wild and free
From Denver to Durango, where the Rockies touch the sun
Colorado, in your thin blue air I come undone
Verse 2
The Colorado starts up here, a trickle in the stone
Then carries half the West along on a journey of its own
Red rocks ring at Morrison when the summer concerts play
And the first snow on the Front Range takes your breath away
Chorus
Under a columbine sky, a mile above the sea
Lark bunting on the prairie wind singing wild and free
From Denver to Durango, where the Rockies touch the sun
Colorado, in your thin blue air I come undone
Bridge
Nil sine numine, nothing here without a grace above
Colorado, every peak of you is one more peak I love
Chorus
Under a columbine sky, a mile above the sea
Lark bunting on the prairie wind singing wild and free
From Denver to Durango, where the Rockies touch the sun
Colorado, in your thin blue air I come undone
About “Columbine Sky”
A mountain folk-rock anthem with banjo and pedal steel for the Centennial State. The lyrics climb from Denver's mile-high plains to Pikes Peak, the aspen groves, the Red Rocks amphitheatre and the headwaters of the Colorado River.
The Rocky Mountain columbine (state flower) names the chorus and the lark bunting is the state bird. Colorado has two official songs, "Where the Columbines Grow" and "Rocky Mountain High".
Places and symbols in the song
- the Rocky Mountains
- Pikes Peak
- Denver
- aspen groves
- the Colorado River headwaters
- Lark bunting
- Rocky Mountain columbine
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 Colorado
- Title
- “Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High”
- Written by
- A. J. Fynn (1915); John Denver and Mike Taylor (1972)
- Status
- the first adopted in 1915, the second added in 2007
Colorado made John Denver's hit its second official state song in 2007, 92 years after the first.
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.
Colorado at a glance
- Nickname
- The Centennial State
- Capital
- Denver
- Largest city
- Denver
- Statehood
- August 1, 1876 (38th state)
- Motto
- Nil sine numine (Nothing without providence)
- State bird
- Lark bunting
- State flower
- Rocky Mountain columbine
- Official state song
- "Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High" (in 1915, the second added in 2007)
Questions about Colorado's state song
What is the official state song of Colorado?
The official state song of Colorado is "Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High", A. J. Fynn (1915); John Denver and Mike Taylor (1972), the first adopted in 1915, the second added in 2007. Colorado made John Denver's hit its second official state song in 2007, 92 years after the first.
Is "Columbine Sky" the official state song of Colorado?
No. "Columbine Sky" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Colorado. The official state song is "Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High", the first adopted in 1915, the second added in 2007. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Columbine Sky" about?
A mountain folk-rock anthem with banjo and pedal steel for the Centennial State. The lyrics climb from Denver's mile-high plains to Pikes Peak, the aspen groves, the Red Rocks amphitheatre and the headwaters of the Colorado River. It names the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak, Denver, aspen groves and the Colorado River headwaters, with the state bird (lark bunting) and state flower (rocky mountain columbine) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High" and when was it adopted?
"Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High" is credited to A. J. Fynn (1915); John Denver and Mike Taylor (1972); it was the first adopted in 1915, the second added in 2007. Colorado made John Denver's hit its second official state song in 2007, 92 years after the first.
What are Colorado's state symbols?
Colorado is nicknamed The Centennial State. Its capital is Denver and its largest city is Denver. It joined the Union on August 1, 1876 (38th state). The state motto is "Nil sine numine (Nothing without providence)", the state bird is the lark bunting and the state flower is the rocky mountain columbine.
Can I play or share "Columbine Sky"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Colorado, 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 Colorado?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Denver, CO") 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.