Iowa · The Hawkeye State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Iowa state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Iowa's official state song is “The Song of Iowa”, adopted in 1911. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Wild Prairie Rose”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Iowa, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Iowa
Warm Midwestern folk-country, acoustic guitar, dobro, soft harmonies and a sunset-golden chorus
“Wild Prairie Rose” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Female vocal · Warm Midwestern folk-country.
Verse 1
Rows of corn like a green sea rolling to the sky
A red barn and a windmill where the goldfinches fly
The Mississippi on one side, the Missouri on the other
Iowa, you're the land that holds us all like a mother
Chorus
Wild prairie rose, you're blooming in the ditch
Our liberties we prize, and we never need be rich
From Des Moines to Dubuque, from the bluffs to the plains
Iowa, you're the gold that stays after the rains
Verse 2
A ballfield in Dyersville where the ghosts come out to play
Covered bridges in Madison County fading gray
Butter cows at the State Fair and the sweet corn piled high
Iowa, you're the simple truth under a wide open sky
Chorus
Wild prairie rose, you're blooming in the ditch
Our liberties we prize, and we never need be rich
From Des Moines to Dubuque, from the bluffs to the plains
Iowa, you're the gold that stays after the rains
Bridge
Every caucus, every harvest, you decide and then you grow
Iowa, you're the first to know
Chorus
Wild prairie rose, you're blooming in the ditch
Our liberties we prize, and we never need be rich
From Des Moines to Dubuque, from the bluffs to the plains
Iowa, you're the gold that stays after the rains
About “Wild Prairie Rose”
Iowa's song is warm Midwestern folk-country: dobro, soft harmonies, cornfields and a chorus that quotes the state motto. The Field of Dreams ballfield at Dyersville, the Bridges of Madison County, the State Fair butter cow and the two great rivers on Iowa's borders all appear.
The wild prairie rose (state flower) names the chorus and the eastern goldfinch is the state bird. The official "Song of Iowa" was adopted in 1911 and is sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum".
Places and symbols in the song
- cornfields
- the Mississippi River
- Des Moines
- the Field of Dreams
- the Bridges of Madison County
- Eastern goldfinch
- Wild prairie rose
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 Iowa
- Title
- “The Song of Iowa”
- Written by
- words by S. H. M. Byers, to the tune of "O Tannenbaum"
- Status
- adopted in 1911
Byers, a Union soldier, wrote the words after hearing the melody played as a Confederate song while a prisoner of war; he gave Iowa its own words to the same tune.
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.
Iowa at a glance
- Nickname
- The Hawkeye State
- Capital
- Des Moines
- Largest city
- Des Moines
- Statehood
- December 28, 1846 (29th state)
- Motto
- Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain
- State bird
- Eastern goldfinch
- State flower
- Wild prairie rose
- Official state song
- "The Song of Iowa" (in 1911)
Questions about Iowa's state song
What is the official state song of Iowa?
The official state song of Iowa is "The Song of Iowa", words by S. H. M. Byers, to the tune of "O Tannenbaum", adopted in 1911. Byers, a Union soldier, wrote the words after hearing the melody played as a Confederate song while a prisoner of war; he gave Iowa its own words to the same tune.
Is "Wild Prairie Rose" the official state song of Iowa?
No. "Wild Prairie Rose" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Iowa. The official state song is "The Song of Iowa", adopted in 1911. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Wild Prairie Rose" about?
Iowa's song is warm Midwestern folk-country: dobro, soft harmonies, cornfields and a chorus that quotes the state motto. The Field of Dreams ballfield at Dyersville, the Bridges of Madison County, the State Fair butter cow and the two great rivers on Iowa's borders all appear. It names cornfields, the Mississippi River, Des Moines, the Field of Dreams and the Bridges of Madison County, with the state bird (eastern goldfinch) and state flower (wild prairie rose) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "The Song of Iowa" and when was it adopted?
"The Song of Iowa" is credited to words by S. H. M. Byers, to the tune of "O Tannenbaum"; it was adopted in 1911. Byers, a Union soldier, wrote the words after hearing the melody played as a Confederate song while a prisoner of war; he gave Iowa its own words to the same tune.
What are Iowa's state symbols?
Iowa is nicknamed The Hawkeye State. Its capital is Des Moines and its largest city is Des Moines. It joined the Union on December 28, 1846 (29th state). The state motto is "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain", the state bird is the eastern goldfinch and the state flower is the wild prairie rose.
Can I play or share "Wild Prairie Rose"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Iowa, 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 Iowa?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Des Moines, IA") 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.